Chapter 53: You Did a Good Thing
Ultear and Siegrain stood on a high platform in the Magic Council headquarters, gazing at the annihilated Trial Hall building in the distance.
Siegrain's face was grave. As one of the Ten Wizard Saints, he was young and proud, blessed with immense magical power—he hadn't taken Dino Maxim very seriously at first.
Sure, he'd heard rumors, but rumors were always exaggerated, right?
But watching the Trial Hall building shatter before his very eyes changed everything. He hadn't sensed any magical power fluctuation—the structure simply collapsed as if something had shaken it apart from within.
The sheer destructive force was terrifying.
How could someone do this while wearing magic-restraining handcuffs?
Ultear toyed with the crystal ball in her hand, a sly smile playing on her lips. I could restore the Trial Hall right now and save that pompous Council from embarrassment… but where's the fun in that?
Better to wait. Let them squirm a little. She could use this as leverage later—the Council owed her for several things anyway.
Thinking of Dino's face made her cheek throb with phantom pain. No one had ever dared treat her that way.
Then she recalled his warning, and her body trembled involuntarily.
Yeah… maybe don't provoke that maniac right now. Who knows what he'd do next time. Besides, watching the Council suffer was its own reward.
Magic Council Office
"What did you say?!"
"Destroyed? What do you mean destroyed?" The Council members exchanged confused glances.
"Were we attacked?"
The messenger gulped. "The Trial Hall—it just… shattered! Collapsed into rubble in seconds!"
Rumble.
A faint tremor rolled through the building. Subtle, almost gentle—but in the high conference room, it sent ice through their veins.
They rushed to the windows.
The Supervision Department building crumbled before their eyes like a sandcastle.
CRASH!
CRASH!
CRASH!
One after another, buildings began collapsing across the compound. Within moments, a third of the Magic Council's structures lay in ruins.
The Council members' faces went white.
"It's Dino! That bastard Dino Maxim did this!"
These politicians were experts at deflecting blame. Everything had been fine before that Fairy Tail mage arrived—this couldn't be coincidence.
"Exactly! Only that lunatic would dare!"
"Thirty years wasn't enough—death penalty! Execute him immediately!"
RUMBLE!
Org's eyes widened. "Oh no—"
He threw up a defensive barrier just as the floor beneath them began vibrating at impossible frequencies. Even through the magical shield, they felt their organs rattling inside their bodies.
"Gah!" Blood sprayed from their mouths.
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
The entire conference building disintegrated into chunks and collapsed.
"The main building! The Council members are still inside!"
"Rescue team, move!"
The normally disciplined Council guards ran about in confusion as building after building fell. Still, their training kicked in—they rushed toward the rubble.
Siegrain glanced at Ultear. "How many buildings is that now?"
His mind reeled. The consecutive destruction, all without visible magic—just how powerful was this man?
Ultear covered her mouth with a sweet giggle. "Siegrain-sama, you shouldn't ask 'which buildings'—you should ask 'how many are left?'"
Siegrain frowned. "So that's why those three old cowards ran. And you made up an excuse to slip away too, didn't you?"
Ultear smiled innocently. "Ah, as expected of Siegrain-sama! You see right through me. Call it feminine intuition—and you know how accurate that can be."
"We can't let him continue. If he destroys the Etherion launch facility—"
CRASH!
In the distance, the magical satellite cannon platform crumbled into fragments.
Ultear's eyes sparkled with amusement. "My, my! Siegrain-sama, you have quite the talent for jinxing things!"
"Is now really the time for jokes?!"
"Oh, relax. Have you forgotten my magic?"
Siegrain's panic faded as he remembered Ultear's Arc of Time. Right—she could restore everything.
Ultear's smile turned calculating. "Besides, now those four Council members owe me a massive favor. And favors… must always be repaid, hmm?"
"You planned this from the start. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought you'd figured it out already. Plus…" She laughed. "Seeing you panic was pretty entertaining."
Magic Council Prison
Dino sat cross-legged on the cold floor, eyes closed, feeling the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit flowing through him. The Devil Fruit ability merged with his magical energy, radiating outward, inducing vibrations in everything around him—causing structures to shake themselves apart.
Still not quite there, he mused. Once I can project vibrations through the air itself, create shockwaves that turn everything into a dead zone… that'll be true awakening.
"DINO MAXIM!"
An enraged roar echoed through the prison.
"LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE!!"
Dino's grin widened.
Perfect.