Chapter 288: You've All Misunderstood
"What?!"
Natsu Dragneel's jaw practically hit the stone floor. His eyes bulged, nearly popping out of his head as he stared at the readout floating holographically above the smoking machine.
"That old guy is being way too serious!!" Natsu yelled, clutching his head. "Eight thousand?! We were fighting over mere hundreds!"
Gray Fullbuster stood beside him, his expression mirroring Natsu's shock. "I knew the Wizard Saints were monsters, but this... this is absurd. He didn't just break the record; he obliterated it."
"Huh?"
In the Sabertooth stand, the Lightning God Slayer, Orga Nanagear, looked on, somewhat dumbfounded. His black lightning, which he had been so proud of just moments ago, had scored 3825. It was an impressive number, certainly, but the bald man standing in the arena had more than doubled it.
"It's completely different," Orga muttered, sweat trickling down his temple. "The density of his magic... it's like the earth itself stood up to strike."
Lyon Vastia, standing with his arms crossed in the Lamia Scale section, smiled with immense pride. "That is the power bestowed upon one of the Ten Wizard Saints. To be honest, I'm surprised he went that far. If he went all out like that too often, the Council might restrict him from public appearances to prevent environmental damage."
[This... this completely refreshes the MPF's highest record!!] The announcer, Chapati Lola, screamed into his microphone, his voice cracking with hysteria. [As expected, the title of the Ten Wizard Saints is definitely not just for show!!! It's a number that defies logic!]
Down in the waiting area, Makarov Dreyar, the Master of Fairy Tail, was also deeply shocked. He stroked his mustache, his eyes grave. "This really is incredible. Jura... over the past seven years, while we were frozen in time, he hasn't just been idling. This guy truly is a match for Gildarts!!"
"Don't worry, Master!"
Romeo Conbolt grinned, looking up at the shocked old man. He pointed a thumb toward the relaxed figure of their team's ace. "We have someone on our side who made such a powerful monster admit defeat voluntarily! If Jura is a monster, then Ren-nii is the King of Monsters!"
The pumpkin-headed mascot and judge, Mato, floated over to Jura. He was trembling slightly, intimidated by the sheer pressure radiating from the Iron Rock Mage.
"Kabo... This... Mr. Jura, since you're so powerful, why did you admit defeat during the battle portion on the first day?" Mato asked, voicing the question that was on everyone's mind. "With this level of power, surely you could have contended for the top spot?"
Several other mages, including Erza and Kagura, leaned in, looking at Jura with intense curiosity.
Jura blinked, seemingly puzzled by the question. He dusted off his hands, the massive rock pillars receding back into the earth.
"Have you all misunderstood something?" Jura asked, his deep voice carrying a tone of genuine confusion.
"Misunderstood?"
"Indeed," Jura nodded solemnly. He glanced toward the Fairy Tail stand, his eyes locking briefly with Ren's amused gaze. "If I hadn't admitted defeat back then, should I have waited until I was seriously injured, or perhaps dead, before losing? It was a tactical withdrawal to preserve my life and dignity."
A hush fell over the crowd.
"Ren's attack... it was far beyond my level," Jura continued, his honesty piercing the pride of every other guild. "That day, the pressure I felt wasn't a battle; it was an execution waiting to happen. My survival was likely the result of him showing mercy. If he had used his full power... if he had unleashed the true extent of his magic... I would have fallen long ago."
"What?!"
"No way..."
"Jura is admitting inferiority? To that extent?"
When the crowd in the stands heard Jura's words, the realization hit them like a physical blow. They finally realized that Ren's strength wasn't just 'high'—it was in a dimension they couldn't perceive.
Strength is often revealed through comparison. Before this moment, to most ordinary people and average mages present, the gap between the "strong" seemed bridgeable. Natsu, Erza, Jura, Orga—they all seemed like "top-tier mages."
But numbers don't lie.
Only after seeing the numerical value of 8544 did they clearly understand the benchmark. And if Jura, the man who scored over 8000, claimed he was nothing compared to Ren, then what was Ren's number? Ten thousand? Twenty thousand?
The reason the Ten Wizard Saints are the pinnacle of the continent is certainly not just for show. And Ren sat above them.
The gazes directed at Ren shifted from curiosity to fear and awe.
"Finally, the last participant!" Chapati Lola announced, trying to bring the hype back. "From Fairy Tail Team B, the She-Devil herself, Mirajane Strauss!"
Mira walked onto the sands, smiling gently, but inside she felt a bit helpless. "My, oh my. If only I could have drawn an earlier turn."
Jura's score was too terrifying. It was a ceiling that practically scraped the heavens. With her current strength, she naturally couldn't surpass it—not after seven years of dormancy and only three months of rehabilitation. But she was a mage of Fairy Tail. She couldn't embarrass the guild by holding back.
She stopped in front of the MPF. The gentle smile vanished. Her eyes sharpened, turning cold and predatory.
"I suppose I should use a form that won't lose face," she whispered.
Magic power, dark and ancient, erupted from her body. It wasn't the golden light of the gods or the elemental fury of dragons. It was the pure, malicious mana of the Demon.
"Full Body Take Over: Demon Halphas!"
A pillar of dark blue energy consumed her.
When the light faded, the barmaid of Fairy Tail was gone. In her place stood a being of destruction. Mira was dressed in demon-like deep blue scales that acted as armor. Vast, bat-like wings spread from her back, casting a shadow over the judges. Two long, curved horns protruded from her head, framing a face that was beautiful yet terrifying.
Demonic flames, the color of a bruised twilight, swirled around her as she walked. Every step scorched the sand. She looked majestic, domineering, and utterly lethal.
"Wait, Master!" Happy cried out. "Isn't that the Soul you told her never to use because it destroys too much of the surrounding area?"
"Is this Miss Mira's magic?" Lucy asked in surprise, feeling the chill in the air.
Erza nodded, her expression serious. "Yes. As far as I know, this is one of Mira's strongest 'Satan Souls'. It is the form of the Demon Halphas, the Great Earl of Hell."
Mira stepped down firmly, the ground cracking under the pressure. She didn't use a fancy spell name. She simply rushed toward the MPF measurement device at high speed, becoming a blur of blue and black.
She pulled her fist back. Demonic flames coiled around her claws, compressing into a sphere of volatile energy.
"Haaah!!"
She slammed her clawed fist directly into the measurement device.
Boom!!
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the stadium. The MPF groaned, the metal buckling under the demonic force. Dust and debris shot outward, forcing the front row of spectators to shield their eyes.
Beep beep!
The numbers rolled rapidly, finally stopping.
3878!!
[Three... three thousand! Another three thousand!!] The announcer gasped. [Mirajane scores 3878! It surpasses Orga of Sabertooth! It's the second-highest score of the day!]
Mira deactivated her Take Over. The scales and wings dissolved into particles of light, revealing her human form. She let out a long sigh of relief, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead.
"I haven't Cultivated in a long time; my strength really has declined," she murmured to herself, looking at her hand.
Mira had a two-year gap in her training before the Tenrou Island incident, and then seven years frozen in time. Although she had grown much stronger during these three months of specialized training (Cultivation) with Ren and the others, the gap had been too long. If she had been practicing normally for those seven years, her strength would definitely be much greater than it is now—perhaps even rivaling the score Jura just posted.
"Three thousand! So amazing!!"
Lucy was startled when she saw Mira's score. "I knew Mira-san was S-Class, but... to beat a God Slayer like Orga?"
Cheers erupted from the stands once again. Although not as intense as the earth-shaking ovation for Jura, they were still significant. Fairy Tail had taken two of the top spots in the rankings again.
[Today's competitive portion has concluded!]
The giant lacrima screen lit up, displaying the current standings.
[The overall rankings are as follows:]
Fairy Tail Team A — 42P
Fairy Tail Team B — 29P
Mermaid Heel — 23P
Blue Pegasus — 21P
Lamia Scale — 20P
Raven Tail — 18P
Sabertooth — 15P
Quatro Cerberus — 14P
[Sabertooth moves up one rank, escaping the bottom, while Quatro Cerberus falls to last place! The scores from second to sixth are very close, a true dogfight! But look at the top! First place, Fairy Tail Team A, is in a league of its own, leading by a huge margin!!]
[Fairy Tail is truly incredible! Is this the true worth of Fiore's strongest guild from seven years ago?! They have returned with a vengeance!]
The crowd roared. The chant of "Fairy Tail" began to ripple through the stadium, drowning out the boos that had greeted them on day one.
[Next is the duel portion of the competition!]
[The first match: Millianna of Mermaid Heel vs. Semmes of Quatro Cerberus.]
The match was a study in contrasts. Semmes, a large, hulking man who spun like a top, relied on brute centrifugal force. Millianna, the cat-loving mage, relied on agility and binding magic.
"Neko Restraint Tube!"
Millianna moved with feline grace, dodging Semmes's heavy strikes. She released magical tubes from her palms, weaving them around the spinning giant.
"Too slow, meow!"
With a sharp tug, the tubes tightened. Semmes's rotation was choked off. He crashed to the ground, bound tight. Millianna tied Semmes up like a bamboo leaf-wrapped zongzi and secured the victory effortlessly.
[Mermaid Heel takes the win! A swift victory for the kittens!]
[The second match: Rufus of Sabertooth vs. Eve Tilm of Blue Pegasus.]
The atmosphere shifted as the two mages entered the ring. Rufus, the "Minstrel Who Sings to the Red Moon," wore his flamboyant hat and mask, exuding an air of theatrical arrogance. Eve, the young ace of Blue Pegasus, looked determined.
"Eve-kun used to be a Council Member, right?" Yajima, the guest commentator, looked at Lahar and asked.
"Yes," Lahar adjusted his glasses, watching intently. "Like us, he was once a member of the Enforcement and Custody Unit, the Rune Knights. Even then, he was an outstanding talent. After leaving the Council and joining a guild, his Magic Power underwent refined sublimation, resulting in a significant increase. He is not an opponent to be taken lightly."
Eve didn't waste time with pleasantries. He knew Rufus was dangerous.
"White Fang!"
Eve unleashed his Snow Magic immediately. The temperature in the arena plummeted. A blizzard erupted from his hands, white and blinding, condensing into jagged fangs of ice and frost that rushed toward Rufus.
"A beautiful winter scene," Rufus commented idly, tipping his hat. "But I have seen something far more terrifying."
Rufus didn't dodge. He stood perfectly still as the blizzard swallowed his body.
"Got him!" Eve shouted.
But from within the whiteout, a crimson glow began to pulse. It was the color of blood, the color of warning.
"Memory-Make: Hellish Skeleton King!!"
Boom!
The ice shattered. A massive, spectral construct materialized around Rufus, shielding him completely from the blizzard. It was a giant ribcage made of red energy, with a skeletal arm forming to protect its caster. Inside the construct, Rufus remained completely unscathed, a smirk playing on his lips.
"What is that?!"
The audience gasped. The visual was terrifying—a skeletal demon rising from the snow.
"Wait..." Erza narrowed her eyes. "That form... that energy signature..."
Everyone in Fairy Tail was startled. They recognized the shape instantly.
"Wasn't this the very magic Ren used during his battle with Jura?" Lucy exclaimed. "The Susanoo?"
"What kind of Molding Magic is that?" Gray's expression grew heavy. "He saw Ren use it once, and he can already mold it?"
At that moment, the giant skeleton's right palm lifted. Magma-like energy coalesced in its grip, forming three spinning commas—Magatamas.
"Yasaka Magatama!!" Rufus chanted.
The three magatamas were hurled toward Eve. They spun through the air like buzzsaws of red energy.
Boom!!
A violent explosion erupted upon impact. Snow turned to steam instantly. The shockwave knocked the wind out of the spectators.
Although its power was far inferior to Ren's original version—lacking the divine density and the absolute defense—it was still a devastating attack for a normal mage to face.
"Agh!!"
Eve screamed as the blast consumed him. He couldn't withstand the impact. His snow defense melted instantly, and he was knocked to the ground, unconscious before he even landed.
[The match is over!!]
[Eve fought bravely against Rufus, but in the end, he was no match!!]
[The winner is Rufus of Sabertooth!! To be able to commit Ren's magic to memory and perform it... he is indeed a powerful individual!!]
"Isn't this guy just plagiarizing?! That's so despicable!!"
Natsu grumbled in dissatisfaction, crossing his arms and puffing out smoke. "This magic is way too unfair! He just watched Ren and now he can do it? I want to use cool magic like that too!"
"It's not despicable! Isn't it quite interesting?"
Ren said with a chuckle, leaning back in his seat. He watched the red skeleton fade away with a critical eye.
"Interesting?" Gray looked at him. "He's ripping off your signature move."
"The opponent's magic is indeed very unique," Ren analyzed calmly. "It isn't copying in the traditional sense, but using memory to reproduce the phenomenon. However..."
Ren's eyes glinted. "Susanoo is the power of a god. It isn't that easy to replicate. This magic was merely similar in form, not substance. It's like a painting of a tiger versus a real tiger. It has the shape, but no soul."
Down in the arena, Sting Eucliffe watched the returning Rufus and teased, "That's not your style, Rufus! Don't you usually add some of your own elements? That was a straight rip-off."
Rufus adjusted his hat, chuckling softly. He shook his head. "In the past, the spells I memorized were often imperfect, requiring my own adjustments. But... Ren's magic is perfect."
Rufus looked back at the Fairy Tail balcony, his gaze lingering on Ren. "There was no need for me to engage in unnecessary secondary creation. The structure, the efficiency... it is flawless. To alter it would be like drawing a snake and adding feet—ruining a masterpiece."
[Next up, the third match: Laxus Dreyar of Fairy Tail Team B vs. Aleksei of Raven Tail!]