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Magic continuously clashed, and explosions spread endlessly... The already small Guild building of Sabertooth was riddled with holes from the raging Magic Power impacts.
Six young children hid in an inconspicuous corner, watching the four figures battling—some with admiration, some with longing, and some with trepidation.
"Sting, your idol is amazing!"
"Of course! Natsu's the best in the world!"
Listening to his friend's joyful voice, Sting's face also showed a hint of pride, as if the person currently dominating Jiemma was him.
The furious Natsu had no idea there was a little fanboy of his in this small Sabertooth.
As his best friend praised Natsu, the usually introverted Rogue could no longer remain silent. "Gajeel's the most amazing!"
Rogue had joined Phantom Lord as a follower precisely because he admired Gajeel.
Now, seeing his big brother fight his way in for him, even clashing with the former Phantom Lord Guild Master Jose, Rogue couldn't express how moved he was.
The other four children were very envious of Rogue. They were orphans, and logically, no one would stand up for them, but two strong individuals had unexpectedly appeared to right this wrong.
"By the way, blonde big sister, aren't you cramped hiding under the table with us six kids?"
Yukino turned her head to the blonde girl beside her, her eyes full of confusion, wondering why, despite her companions being so strong, she was sitting at the children's table.
"I'm so weak, I'm really sorry..." The little girl's innocent eyes almost made Lucy break down. It wasn't that she didn't want to go up and help Natsu and Gajeel, but she had to consider who their opponents were.
The current Guild Master of Sabertooth, Jiemma, was a man covered in bulging muscles with an extraordinary aura, his Magic Power stirring the surrounding air. One look and you knew he was a formidable character.
And the other was even more powerful—Jose, who was once one of the Ten Wizard Saints and the former Guild Master of Phantom Lord.
Although Lucy possessed nine Gold Celestial Spirit Keys, being in her developmental stage, she could currently only manage "Dual Gate" at most, summoning two Celestial Spirits to battle.
Moreover, because Lucy's Magic Power wasn't yet strong enough, even Gold Key Celestial Spirits couldn't unleash their full power. If she were to foolishly step forward now, she'd only cause trouble for Natsu and Gajeel.
Boom!
Another violent magical collision occurred, and the dilapidated Guild finally couldn't hold on. Half the building collapsed, kicking up a cloud of smoke.
No injuries from the smoke—the four figures broke through the ruins and rushed onto the street to continue their confrontation.
Jose was as gloomy and wretched as before. Looking at the cool-headed person opposite him, his resentment toward Fairy Tail intensified. "Gajeel, you bastard! You joined Fairy Tail, and you still dare to appear before me!"
"Hmph, what I do and how I do it is none of your business." Gajeel responded coldly. He'd long since repaid Jose for taking him in.
Although he didn't know why Jose had appeared here from the Magic Council's prison and had fully recovered from his injuries, this didn't stop Gajeel from doing as he pleased.
The indifferent attitude of his former subordinate infuriated Jose. "How dare you speak to me like that! I see you're courting death!"
"Dead Wave!"
As soon as he finished speaking, powerful Dark Magic Power twisted into a spiral in Jose's hand and instantly shot toward Gajeel. Its immense force seemed as if it would pierce Gajeel through.
Being a former subordinate, Gajeel knew Jose's strength well and naturally didn't dare be careless. A layer of iron scales, tempered through countless trials, appeared on his skin, and his hands transformed into two large metal swords.
The Iron Dragon's Sword swept across, actually severing Jose's murderous Magic in half.
Jose watched this scene in shock. After just a few months, how could this brat's strength have grown so much?!
Equally surprised was Gajeel.
He looked at his hardened body and couldn't help but smile in realization. Indeed, just as Noah had said, by refining the "Iron Dragon's Scales" of Iron Dragon Slayer Magic into "Steel Dragon's Scales," his strength had made a qualitative leap.
It was worth being hammered by Old Man Doran's hammer for several months.
Of course, "Steel Dragon's Scales" alone wasn't enough. Gajeel knew he couldn't directly confront Jose with just his Dragon Slayer Magic.
A dark luster rapidly covered Gajeel's entire body. With Armament Haki, which perfectly complemented Iron Dragon Slayer Magic, although Gajeel still couldn't defeat Jose, how could Jose possibly defeat him?
"Jose, didn't you eat breakfast?"
"You bastard!"
Jose's face turned ashen at the taunt. "You hateful metal brat, watch as I send you on your way!"
"Abyss Break!"
Endless Dark Magic Power instantly swept across the battlefield, then compressed into numerous powerful, storm-like attacks. The speed was incredibly fast, and the strong winds even pressed Gajeel down, making him unable to lift his arms.
Watching the dark storm engulf Gajeel, and hearing the piercing sound of metal being torn, Jose knew that the brat who'd betrayed him was finished.
"This is the consequence of defying me, Jose... Hmm?!"
The storm was violently torn apart from within, and a heavily scarred Gajeel emerged with a sneer, striding forward.
Relying on the special enhancement to his body provided by Iron Dragon Slayer Magic's Iron Dragon's Scales, and Armament Haki, Gajeel had actually withstood Jose's full-power attack head-on.
And he seemed to have not suffered too severe injuries.
Jose's face was somewhat stiff. What was happening before his eyes made him realize that the current Gajeel was no longer the tool he could manipulate at will...
While Gajeel's battle was at a stalemate, Natsu's fight on the other side was heating up.
As a powerful Fire Dragon's Iron Fist, covered in Armament Haki, landed on Jiemma, who was blocking with crossed arms, Jiemma seemed to hear a slight crack from his arm bones. His entire body was pushed back by Natsu's force, his feet sinking into the ground.
Damn it! Why is this mere brat so strong?!
This was also what Natsu wanted to ask.
When Natsu first saw the imposing Jiemma, he'd felt the other party's strength and immediately gathered all his might, attacking with full force.
However, when the actual fight began, Natsu discovered that this new Guild Master of Sabertooth was terribly weak.
His punches were unrefined, his footwork loose, his reactions slow... Even if these were overlooked, Jiemma's Magic was truly pathetic.
He was simply all flash and no substance!
After punching Jiemma back again, Natsu chose not to pursue. "If this is all your strength, then you've really disappointed me!"
To be forced to such an extent by a junior... Jiemma gritted his teeth. He never imagined he wouldn't even be a match for a Mage from Fairy Tail who wasn't even S-Class.
In that case, he could only use that power.
"Brat, let me show you a true Demon!"
A faint greenish light flashed in Jiemma's eyes, and then his whole body was covered in a dense killing intent. His body suddenly swelled, and in the blink of an eye, his figure was more than twice its previous size.
An indescribable immense power surged from Jiemma, like suffocating pressure. Even Natsu, who feared nothing, involuntarily took a step back.
That wasn't Magic Power, but Curse Power that only Demons possessed.
Unlike the Demons from the Books of Zeref, this Curse Power came from the Eighteen Demon Fighting Gods: Battle Bond!