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Under the magic barrier, the terrifying pressure Noah had exerted on Invel suddenly vanished, allowing him to catch his breath, coughing up blood as he stumbled backward.
Neinhart also seized the opportunity to retreat behind August.
Noah paid no mind to the two defeated subordinates, his gaze fixed solely on August, as he could clearly sense the astonishing Magic Power that had erupted from the "Wizard King" the moment he saved Invel.
The white-haired elder calmly met Noah's gaze, his eyes filled with admiration for the young man.
How many years had it been?
Since the Alvarez Empire unified the Western Continent, there had been no one worthy of his intervention.
In recent years, August had been dedicated to state affairs, guiding younger generations in his free time, presenting himself as a kind and amiable old man.
As a result, many people now forgot, or simply never knew, that before the title "Wizard King," August was a Great Mage—"Calamity"—who single-handedly swept across dozens of countries on the Western Continent, forcing them to kneel and submit to the Empire.
As the saying goes, a master is lonely.
Even August, who mastered almost all magic in the world, was no exception. Only the woman the Emperor brought back from his travels eighteen years ago could rival him.
August regarded his comrades as family and would not harm family, so his interactions with the female Mage known as "Scarlet Despair" were limited to friendly sparring.
However, today, the young man who made both Invel and Neinhart unable to withstand even one of his moves brought August a tremendous surprise.
August slowly spoke, his voice deep. "Young man, the Fairy Heart is not something your guild can monopolize, nor is it a secret you alone can guard."
"Since you are unwilling to hand it over, I will have no choice but to ask you to stay, to prevent the Empire's intelligence from leaking."
"Rest assured, I promise to spare your life."
"Spare my life?"
Noah's lips curved into a sneering arc. "Then you are truly benevolent, unlike a ruthless young man like me. Since you know things you shouldn't, then take this secret with you and slumber forever on the Western Continent."
"Don't worry, I will make sure to eliminate everyone so you won't be lonely on your journey to the underworld."
Noah spoke directly about killing them, but August's voice remained calm and gentle. "Killing them to silence them? Young man, don't be so impetuous."
"Haha, if I wasn't impetuous, would I still be a young man?"
The old man and the young man exchanged smiles, harmonious as if they were an unlikely pair of friends, but Invel and Neinhart, watching this scene, felt a chill down their spines.
As Noah and August conversed, the air inside the palace solidified once more, magic particles restlessly stirring, their magic spreading like a tangible tide.
The increasingly urgent invisible pressure became unbearable for the severely wounded Invel, who could only have Neinhart lead him away.
Just as the two limped out of the palace gates, a loud bang erupted from the palace behind them.
It was the roar of colliding magic.
Endless cold air converged into a roaring giant ice beast, clashing fiercely with the Ice Devil Slayer Magic's extreme cold, which seemed capable of freezing souls.
The violent shockwave blasted a huge crater into the hard palace floor, sending ice shards and rubble scattering.
Noah clapped his hands, exclaiming. "As expected of the 'Wizard King'—truly formidable."
The magic August had just used against him was the same magic Invel used, but the difference in their execution of the same magic was like night and day.
If Invel became the Winter General by relying on this magic, then August was the endless King of Winter.
August's ancient eyes, which had seen through all magic in the world, still calmly watched Noah. "To cultivate Ice Devil Slayer Magic to such a degree, young man, you are also impressive."
Before he finished speaking, August moved.
Without incantation, without warning, a bone-chilling cold erupted. Countless sharp, angular ice crystals grew and spread wildly like living things, instantly freezing the floor, walls, and ceiling.
This move was precisely the "Ice Demon's Absolute Zero" that Noah had previously used against Invel!
However, the Absolute Zero recreated in August's hands was more refined, more powerful, and more lethal than Noah's.
The biting cold that rushed towards Noah caused his pupils to constrict slightly, then his magic erupted from his body like a volcanic eruption, rapidly raising the surrounding temperature to a terrifying heat.
The clash of extreme cold and heat generated a large amount of mist that spread at their feet.
Noah looked at the old man opposite him in confusion. The other party could actually replicate his self-created magic moves.
No, it wasn't replication!
He had completely copied the Ice Devil Slayer Magic!
No wonder August was called the "Wizard King." He could copy an enemy's magic just by observing it, even Devil Slayer Magic, which could only be inherited through power transfer.
This was too heaven-defying.
Noah felt lucky that it was him who came. Let alone Fairy Tail, even the entire Ishgar continent would not have anyone who could contend with the "Wizard King."
A glint flashed in August's eyes. "You seem to have recognized my magic, 'Copy.' What acute observation skills. In that case, I will certainly not let you leave."
"Copy" was not actually a powerful magic, because the human brain can only receive a limited amount of information. Once too many spells are copied, even a Mage's mind cannot bear it.
The reason the Wizard King was so strong was simply because he was August.
August's innate super brain allowed him to learn the operating principles of things through observation, thereby instantly analyzing magic and deducing various higher-level magic spells of the same nature.
August, who had now learned almost all magic in the world, could even nullify magic directed at him simply by understanding it.
If one word were to describe August's strength, it would only be one—the pinnacle of humanity.
In this world of magic, apart from the heaven-defying Black Dragon that was immune to magic, August could certainly be considered one of the strongest in the world.
Watching the Magic Power on the old man's body begin to grow exponentially, so terrifying that even the surrounding air twisted due to the magic fluctuations, Noah, however, stopped his own magic burst at this moment, quickly returning to calm.
August looked surprised. "Young man, are you perhaps giving up?"
Noah shook his head, a playful smile on his lips, as he stood sideways. "Among the magical beings I have seen, I, Noah, declare you, August, to be the strongest."
"In terms of magic, I won't be your opponent in a short time."
"So, I'll use a different kind of power to fight you."