Kagura acted first, swinging her blade.
"Don't panic—cut through them all!"
SHING!
The missiles split apart in mid-air, exploding harmlessly.
"…So that's where you are," Laxus muttered, eyes narrowing toward Hargeon. He moved to rush forward, but Kagura quickly stepped in front of him.
"You just defeated one of the Twelve Shields," she said firmly. "Your magic must be heavily drained. Leave this one to me."
She hadn't seen Dimaria's technique, but she had felt that terrifying magic that silenced the entire battlefield. To her, Laxus had already done the impossible.
But Laxus only turned his head, golden lightning crackling around his body.
"It doesn't matter. Twelve Shields, twenty Shields—it's the same. Anyone who dares harm my comrades or my guild… dies."
His tone left no room for argument. Kagura fell silent. Ultear only shook her head.
"You can't stop him," she said softly. "Fairy Tail wizards never turn back once they've made their choice."
She'd fought against Fairy Tail before, but only now did she truly grasp it. If Laxus had been at Tenrou Island, Grimoire Heart would have lost even faster. This guild was full of monsters who only grew stronger with each battle.
"Is it finished yet? The ammo's ready!"
On the tallest building in Hargeon, Wall grinned, refining more weapons with his alchemy.
CRACK-BOOM!
A golden thunderbolt fell from the heavens, blasting the rooftop into a smoking crater.
"Heh… that was quick."
"Alchemy—copper, zinc—manufacture nine-millimeter bullets! Fire!!"
A hailstorm of bullets screamed toward Laxus.
But before they could touch him, the lightning coursing around his body electrocuted them in mid-air.
ZZZZZZT—!BOOM!
The air filled with sparks as every bullet disintegrated.
"Your weakness is obvious! Analyze!!" Wall's eyes glowed as his arm shifted, transforming into a reinforced mechanical cannon.
Laxus charged, fists glowing.
BOOM!!
His punch slammed into Wall, sending him sprawling.
Wall's scanners processed the impossible.
"…What is this body? It's saturated with magic barrier particles. For any normal human mage, that's lethal poison. Yet he's… alive?!"
Laxus' eyes narrowed.
"The question isn't how to survive. It's how to live."
His fist crashed down again, smashing Wall into the ground.
"Heeheehee… humans and their word games," Wall sneered, reforming his face. "But unlike Dimaria, I resist lightning. Against me, your magic is useless. You should be thinking about how you want to die!"
He swung his fist, but Laxus caught it midair.
CRACK!
Then slammed his own punch into Wall's jaw, launching him skyward.
"My lightning… doesn't work?!" Wall laughed coldly through the pain, but sparks burned across his scorched face.
"Analysis complete. Even with his body corroded by barrier particles, he still wields top-class magic. If I adjust his traits… yes, I can exploit it."
His body shifted again. Plates unfolded, cannons mounted.
"Switching configuration—Assault Exoskeleton, engage! Target: Laxus. Magic furnace, ignition. Estimated elimination in one hundred seconds!"
"Incendiary bomb—fire!!"
A cannon in Wall's palm erupted, flames engulfing the sky. Laxus narrowed his eyes. That blast was no joke—if it hit, he'd be in real danger.
"Missiles, ready. Launch!!"
Dozens streaked across the air.
"Instant strike!!"
Laxus blurred into golden lightning, weaving between explosions as he charged.
"Anti-object laser!!"
A beam ripped through the air. Laxus raised his hand, summoning lightning into his palm. He slapped the beam aside, redirecting it into the distance.
BOOOOM!!!
The horizon lit up with fire.
Laxus appeared before Wall in an instant.
"I told you—your lightning resistance doesn't matter to me."
Electricity erupted across his body, but this time it was darker, heavier. Lightning fused with something else, glowing in a dark golden hue.
"…Try resisting this."
BOOOOM!!
The dark-gold thunder roared out, smashing into Wall and sending his body convulsing with sparks.
"Warning! Physical damage detected! Warning!!"
Wall's scanners went haywire. This wasn't ordinary lightning.
"…Impossible. I analyzed your magic. I should be immune. Why am I still taking damage?!"
"Analyze it all you want," Laxus growled. "Dragon Slayer lungs are special—they can absorb and transform power. Even magic barrier particles. What poisons others… I can turn into my own strength."
Dark golden arcs danced violently across his body, each spark brimming with lethal power.