This Hades was stronger than the foes they had met before, stronger than Jose Porla, stronger than Jellal, and perhaps even stronger than Warrod Sequen himself, who currently ranked among the top three of the Ten Wizard Saints.
"Grandpa... let me handle this guy."
Marco watched from the side, and he understood it immediately.
The old man could not win.
Precht was a level above him.
The man truly lived up to his reputation. At the very least, he had far more substance than the former Oración Seis.
Only a man like this—could truly deserve to stand as the guild master of one of the Three Great Powers of the Balam Alliance, carrying that aura of someone who could topple the Magic Council and truly reign over the world.
Not wanting the old man to lose his dignity, Marco volunteered to step in.
Although part of the reason Makarov had attacked in anger was because of his own complicated personal feelings, Marco had every right to inherit those feelings and grudges.
There was nothing strange about him stepping forward in his place.
They were, after all, genuinely grandfather and grandson.
"No, Marco! This is something I have to deal with myself."
But Makarov shook his head and refused Marco's request.
He had to handle it himself.
He had to defeat Precht with his own hands.
This was between him and Precht. There was no need to drag Marco into it.
Even as he said that, Makarov attacked again, pressing forward at Hades.
And this time Hades did not simply remain on defense.
He unleashed his own magic in return, a thick dark aura erupting out like ink that threatened to dye the sky black.
"Amaterasu: Hundred Styles!"
Hades swept out one great hand, and countless curse-seal arrays surrounded the giant.
The sight alone was terrifying.
The dense black magic blotted out the sky and completely engulfed Makarov, swallowing the giant whole in darkness.
Boom boom boom!!!
A chain of huge explosions erupted.
That black magic immediately displayed enormous destructive power.
Makarov's huge body was practically a living target.
But the old man was a veteran of countless battles.
Although his giant form possessed astonishing durability, he still instantly reverted to normal size instead of trying to tank the attack head-on.
The value of experience showed itself completely in that moment.
He would not take reckless risks.
Even in his rage, facing a foe like Precht was entirely different from facing someone like Jose Porla.
Against this enemy, he had to be cautious—more cautious than ever.
Makarov raised the defensive array Three Pillar Gods, his strongest barrier spell.
Its defense was so stable that even city-destroying or island-shattering attacks should not have been able to break it.
This was Makarov's ultimate defense.
If even Three Pillar Gods could not stop the attack, then his giant body certainly could not either.
Boom!!!
And yet under the bombardment of that terrifying black magic, Three Pillar Gods collapsed with a crash.
Makarov's expression changed.
Precht's strength was clearly beyond what he had anticipated.
He had known Precht would be strong—but this was too strong!
Buzz!
Marco's figure suddenly appeared.
The instant Three Pillar Gods shattered, Marco pulled Makarov out of the explosion.
"Master Makarov! This is not your problem alone! This is the problem of all Fairy Tail! Right now, this Hades is an enemy invading Tenrou Island—not some 'Second Guild Master Precht'! Every one of us, every single Fairy Tail companion, has the right to stand up and fight him!"
After dragging the old man out of the black-magic explosion, Marco spoke with a stern expression.
This time, he addressed him directly by his title.
In a public setting, that was only proper.
Makarov froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard.
The old man had not expected Marco to be so forceful, nor had he expected him to say something like that.
But Marco's words were not wrong.
Every Fairy Tail mage had both the right and the duty to stand against Hades, the invader before them.
"Marco's right, old man. Go take the rear and watch over things. Leave the rest to us younger ones. We're not down yet, so how can we let the guild's old masters fall first? Wouldn't that just make us look useless?"
Gildarts stepped forward and came to stand beside Marco.
He blinked and grinned, casually lumping himself in with the "young ones"—something he normally did not have the guts for.
But compared to true old-timers like Makarov and Precht, he really did count as one of Fairy Tail's younger generation.
When Precht was active, Gildarts probably had not even been conceived yet.
"That's right! Master, you've still got us!"
The mages of Fairy Tail all stepped forward.
The ones gathered here for the S-Class Promotion Exam were already the young elite of the guild.
None of them lacked courage.
And with Marco and Gildarts taking the lead, plus Erza and Mirajane responding without hesitation, the rest naturally followed.
Their younger generation was not some pile of trash.
So what if it was Precht?
So what if he was the Second Guild Master?
If he had betrayed Fairy Tail, if he had chosen to stand against the guild, then they would defeat him without hesitation.
Crackle crackle crackle!!!
Out over the sea beyond the island, lightning flashed and thunder roared, racing rapidly toward Tenrou Island.
Within the storm clouds and lightning was a figure—a figure wreathed in electricity.
"With something this lively going on, how could I possibly stay away?!"
That bolt of lightning struck the ground and took human form.
It was a tall, powerfully built man, with blond hair crackling like living lightning, anger obvious in his voice.
"Laxus!"
The members of Fairy Tail cried out in shock.
The figure was none other than Laxus—another powerful mage who had once left the guild.
But unlike a traitor, Laxus still stood firmly on Fairy Tail's side.
He glared at Hades as if he wanted to skin him alive on the spot.