Chapter 301: You Can Continue to Flee
A violent explosion erupted, and the powerful shockwave destroyed everything in its surroundings.
After the smoke from the explosion cleared, Jura looked somewhat disheveled, but fortunately, his powerful magic had protected him at the critical moment, preventing him from being killed outright.
"Ah! It's Jura!"
"Lord Ren, you are..."
Jura was somewhat wary; although he couldn't match Ren in strength, he wouldn't simply surrender if he had to fight him now.
"I was chasing Minerva; it seems she swapped her position with yours."
Hearing Ren's words, Jura was instantly annoyed.
That Minerva had actually used him as a shield; it was truly detestable.
"Lord Ren, what are your plans next?"
Jura knew that he couldn't escape based on mobility alone; if the other party wanted to fight, he would fight.
"I'll continue to chase Minerva. Do as you please."
Jura breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this.
Even as one of the Ten Wizard Saints, he felt immense pressure facing Ren.
The sheer volume of magical power radiating from the Fairy Tail Mage was nothing short of suffocating.
It felt as though the very air around Ren had been replaced by a dense, unyielding gravity.
Jura wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, his stoic expression betraying none of the internal shock he was experiencing.
He was the ace of Lamia Scale, a veteran who had faced countless dark guilds and monstrous entities throughout his life.
Yet, standing before this young man made him feel as if he were staring directly into a raging natural disaster.
Ren didn't even adopt a fighting stance.
He simply stood amidst the shattered cobblestones of the artificial city, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.
His relaxed posture only served to amplify the terrifying confidence he exuded.
Ren's gaze swept across the ruined area, his striking eyes glowing with an ethereal, unnatural brilliance.
He seamlessly activated his Six Eyes.
The entire world shifted around him, peeling away the physical layer of buildings and debris to reveal the intricate, flowing tapestry of magic.
To him, the atmosphere was painted in vivid colors of Cursed Energy and magical formulas, impossible to hide from.
He soon discovered subtle, unnatural magic fluctuations hidden nearby.
It was a faint distortion in the fabric of space itself, like a ripple on the surface of a perfectly still pond.
At this moment, Minerva was hiding within a spatial void created by her Territory magic.
She leaned against the dimensional fold of her pocket reality, panting slightly as she tried to calm her racing heart.
Despite her ragged breathing, a malicious, arrogant grin spread across her face.
She wanted to watch the show from the absolute safety of her isolated dimension.
She fully expected to wait comfortably while Ren and Jura engaged in an earth-shattering battle outside.
This way, she could not only passively consume Ren's seemingly bottomless magic reserves, but also eliminate another powerful rival competing for the championship.
Her calculations were cold and pragmatic, prioritizing Sabertooth's victory over conventional honor.
She planned to launch a lethal sneak attack from her dimension just as Jura was about to be defeated.
That way, she could enjoy the spectacle of their mutual destruction without getting her own hands dirty.
Furthermore, she would seamlessly obtain Lamia Scale's points from Jura's elimination, securing her position at the top of the Grand Magic Games leaderboard.
Minerva's plan was well-calculated, reflecting the ruthless, win-at-all-costs ideology instilled in her by her father, Master Jiemma.
But she still vastly, fatally underestimated Ren's true abilities.
In the crossover lore of Jujutsu Kaisen, the Six Eyes possess the absolute authority to see through an opponent's Cursed Energy and techniques down to the atomic level.
It possessed the exact same absolute function in the world of Fairy Tail.
To the Six Eyes, an isolated spatial dimension was not a perfect hiding spot; it was merely a slightly thicker Magic Circle waiting to be read.
Found you!
Ren thought, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as his eyes locked onto a seemingly empty patch of air above the rubble.
"Cursed Technique Reversal: Blue!"
Ren casually raised his right hand, pointing his index and middle fingers toward the empty space.
A focal point of absolute, overwhelming attraction materialized instantly.
A swirling, highly condensed blue sphere formed at his fingertips, humming with the terrifying concept of negative distance.
The immense magnetic pull instantly warped the surrounding air, bending the light around it.
Minerva was absolutely shocked to see Ren aiming his attack directly at her precise location.
Her malicious grin vanished, replaced by wide-eyed disbelief.
Had she been discovered, or was he just testing the area blindly?
She gritted her teeth, refusing to give in to the sudden spike of panic in her chest.
It didn't matter.
She confidently assured herself that she was currently tucked away within a completely isolated magical space.
According to the fundamental rules of magic, ordinary attacks simply couldn't cross the dimensional barrier into her Territory.
"Crack—!!"
With a sharp, crisp sound that echoed like shattering stained glass, the absolute spatial territory around Minerva's body was forcefully gnawed open.
The overwhelming magnetic force of the Blue Sphere didn't just attack the space; it crushed the very concept of the distance separating them.
The dimensional void tore open violently, leaving a jagged, sparking hole in the air.
Through that shattered spatial window, her panicked, trembling figure suddenly appeared.
[It's Minerva!! Minerva was actually hiding in the nearby space!!]
The commentator's amplified voice boomed across the Domus Flau arena, whipping the massive crowd into a frenzy.
[By the way, how in the world did contestant Ren find her?!]
Whoosh—!
Minerva's figure instantly moved to the side, reacting purely on her refined combat instincts.
She forcefully utilized the remaining tatters of her Territory magic to teleport just outside the crushing gravitational pull of the Blue Sphere.
She crashed onto the cobblestone street ungracefully, her pristine Sabertooth uniform now covered in dust and soot.
Looking up at Ren with a grim, twisted expression, she spat out a mouthful of dust.
"Ren... how did you find this mistress?" she demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of fury and genuine fear.
"This mistress was hidden perfectly within her own isolated space; you shouldn't have been able to find me!"
Ren smiled gently, a look of pure, unadulterated amusement in his eyes.
He slowly raised a hand and pointed to his striking, glowing eyes.
"These eyes are called the Six Eyes," he explained in a smooth, conversational tone.
"They possess very special abilities, including absolute 360-degree long-range vision."
He took a slow, deliberate step forward, the sound of his boots echoing loudly in the silent street.
"I can see behind me, I can see from incredibly great distances, and even complex spatial obstacles don't hinder my sight in the slightest."
Ren tilted his head, looking down at her as if she were a fascinating insect.
"I can directly discern whether someone is a Mage, trace the exact flow of their magic power, and completely see through the structure of an opponent's magic."
Minerva's face darkened drastically at these terrifying words.
A cold sweat broke out across her forehead as the grim reality of her situation set in.
She already knew Ren was ridiculously troublesome to deal with.
She knew he had many mysterious transformations, each possessing overwhelmingly powerful and logic-defying abilities.
But she hadn't expected him to be this completely, utterly impossible to counter.
Her ultimate hiding and maneuvering technique—the very core of her combat style—was rendered entirely useless by a mere glance from him.
"Alright, you can continue to flee," Ren offered, his tone dripping with condescending mercy.
He crossed his arms loosely over his chest, making no move to attack.
"I'll even give you a head start. Five seconds. Five... four..."
"Damn it! Ren, don't push people too far!"
Minerva shrieked, her carefully cultivated aristocratic facade completely crumbling away.
Her expression became incredibly gloomy and unsightly, her features contorted with pure rage.
Being chased around the artificial city by Ren like a helpless stray dog had caused her to lose an unforgivable amount of face.
She was the esteemed young miss of the strongest guild in Fiore, Sabertooth!
When had she ever suffered such intense, public humiliation in her entire life?
Ren chuckled softly, the sound grating against Minerva's frayed nerves.
"Pushing too far? So what if I am?"
He gestured vaguely toward the magical screens floating in the sky above the arena.
"I haven't broken a single rule of the tournament. I'm just playing the game."
Just then, a sharp, disciplined magical signature flared, and a new figure appeared not far away from their standoff.
It was a very cute girl with long, straight black hair cut in a traditional hime style.
She was wearing a tailored white suit jacket, a matching white short skirt, and black thigh-high stockings.
A long, intricately wrapped sword rested securely at her waist, exuding a silent but deadly aura.
"Kagura!" Jura noted aloud, his thick eyebrows narrowing slightly at the sudden arrival of another major variable.
The newcomer was indeed Kagura Mikazuchi, the undisputed ace of the Mermaid Heel guild.
Her face was as stoic and unreadable as carved ice, her posture perfect and completely devoid of any openings.
Her hand rested naturally on the hilt of her sealed sword, Archenemy, ready to draw it at a moment's notice.
[They've met! The captains of four different guilds have officially encountered each other at the same time!!]
The announcer's voice reached a fever pitch, the crowd's roaring cheers vibrating through the Lacrima screens.
[I wonder what kind of spectacular battle will break out next?! This is unprecedented!]
Minerva's sharp eyes immediately darted between Jura's defensive stance and Kagura's arrival.
A cunning, desperate light flashed in her dark eyes as she forcibly swallowed her burning anger.
"Kagura! You've come at the right time!"
Minerva called out, her voice suddenly dripping with a feigned, urgent camaraderie.
"Ren is undoubtedly the strongest Mage here. Look at the destruction he's caused!"
She pointed an accusatory, trembling finger at the relaxed Fairy Tail Mage.
"None of our three guilds can face this monster alone and hope to survive the night."
Kagura remained entirely silent, her sharp, analytical gaze sweeping over the destroyed battlefield.
She noted Jura's uncharacteristic wariness and Minerva's highly ragged, desperate state.
"Unless we defeat this monster right here and now, none of our three guilds will be able to win the Grand Magic Games," Minerva continued to instigate.
Her tone was highly persuasive, playing on their shared desire for their respective guilds' success.
Jura and Kagura were visibly moved by Minerva's calculated words.
They exchanged a brief, silent glance of mutual understanding.
Indeed, Ren's combat strength was simply too vast; it broke the delicate balance of the tournament.
As long as he remained an active participant, it was almost mathematically impossible for other guilds to secure enough points to win.
They both clearly knew Minerva had ulterior motives and was just trying to use them as meat shields.
But as seasoned Mages, they had to admit she was objectively right.
"I have a proposal," Minerva said smoothly, sensing their slight hesitation.
"Our best course of action is to unite right now. Defeat Ren together, eliminate Fairy Tail's biggest threat, and then compete amongst ourselves for the final victory."
[Oh! Minerva has extended an invitation to Kagura and Jura to unite against a common enemy! Will they accept her proposal?]
Jura and Kagura hesitated, the tension in the air growing thick enough to cut with a blade.
To be completely honest, deep down in their warrior hearts, they didn't care much about winning through numerical advantage.
Strength is absolute strength, and weakness is weakness; ganging up on a single opponent clashed with their personal pride.
Winning the Grand Magic Games through an alliance wouldn't change the undeniable fact that they were individually inferior to him.
Just as the two proud Mages were about to formally refuse Minerva's cowardly proposal...
Ren suddenly spoke up, his calm voice cutting through the heavy silence like a physical blow.
"It's not enough."
"What?!"
All three of them—Jura, Kagura, and Minerva—snapped their heads toward Ren.
They looked at him with highly searching, completely stunned gazes, wondering what he could possibly mean.
Looking at the three elite Mages with a faint, utterly unbothered smile, Ren casually adjusted his sleeves.
"I said it's not enough," he repeated, his tone totally devoid of arrogance, stating it as a simple, objective fact.
"Just the three of you teaming up to try and defeat me is simply not enough."
[Ren... Ren... Contestant Ren actually said that Minerva, Kagura, and the Ten Wizard Saint Jura combined can't beat him!! What a Haki declaration!!]
"What did you say?!!"
Minerva shrieked, her fragile pride completely shattered by his casual dismissal of their combined might.
Kagura's gaze toward Ren shifted.
She had heard about him from her elder brother and Millianna—how Ren had defeated Jellal and saved everyone.
He had even diverted the Magic Council's Etherion; such an incredible feat was within his power.
In her heart, she was very grateful to Ren, and she also felt a sense of yearning and admiration, wanting to see what kind of person he truly was.
The combat power Ren displayed on the first day certainly didn't disappoint her.
Even when facing the powerful Jura, the fifth-ranked of the Ten Wizard Saints, he could defeat him.
This truly made her admire him.
After all, as far as she knew, Ren and the others had missed seven years of Cultivation, yet they still possessed such strength.
It was truly remarkable.
But no matter how powerful a person is, there are limits.
Defeating one or two people might be one thing, but for Ren to say the three of them weren't enough seemed quite arrogant to her, making her feel as though she were being underestimated.
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