"That's the other strongest candidate." Mirajane Strauss narrowed her eyes as she looked up at the figure on the second floor, then gave Lucy Heartfilia a small shrug.
"Ah!" Lucy blinked in surprise. Her gaze landed on the man with short blond hair, a lightning shaped mark over his right eye, and headphones resting around his neck. The moment their eyes met, a sharp pressure struck her instincts, making her quickly look away. Just meeting his gaze felt dangerous.
"Haha! Mystogan is just shy, don't push him too much."
Laxus Dreyar leaned lazily against the railing, looking down at everyone with clear disdain.
"Laxus, let's fight!"
Natsu Dragneel suddenly sprang up from the floor, flipping to his feet as if he had never been asleep, his eyes burning with excitement.
"Oh, Natsu? You can't even beat Erza, and you think you can challenge me?"
Laxus didn't move from his spot, his tone dripping with arrogance.
"What did you say?"
Erza Scarlet's expression darkened instantly.
"Hey, Erza, take it easy."
Gray Fullbuster quickly grabbed her arm, sweat forming on his forehead as he tried to prevent an explosion.
"It means I'm the strongest."
Laxus straightened, spreading his arms wide as if claiming the entire guild for himself. His confidence bordered on insanity.
"Get down here, you bastard!"
Natsu pointed straight at him, refusing to accept those words.
"Come up here instead."
Laxus curled his finger, beckoning him with pure contempt.
"Fine, I'm coming up!"
Natsu charged toward the second floor without hesitation.
"You're not allowed up there yet."
Makarov Dreyar's hand suddenly enlarged and slammed Natsu into the ground, stopping him instantly.
"Tsk, learned your place yet?"
Laxus watched with a smirk, resting his chin on his hand like someone watching a show.
"Laxus, that's enough."
Makarov's gaze sharpened as he turned toward him.
"Hmph. A bunch of weaklings. The title of strongest in Fairy Tail won't go to anyone else, not Erza, not Mystogan, not even Gildarts."
His expression darkened before he turned and walked away, disappearing from the second floor.
"Damn it, he's way too arrogant."
"Seriously."
The guild members muttered among themselves, clearly displeased, yet none dared to challenge him.
…
North of the Fiore Kingdom lay the Veronica Kingdom, a nation with over four hundred years of history.
Like Fiore, it was a neutral country, but far larger, with a population nearing fifty million.
Although its Mage Guilds were not as famous as Fairy Tail or Blue Pegasus, its Royal Army was formidable. With over five hundred thousand soldiers, its military strength surpassed Fiore's.
However, when it came to powerful mages, Fiore still held the advantage.
Inside the royal hall, the king, a man well past middle age, sat upon his throne reviewing documents. His crown and luxurious attire reflected his status, while his focused expression revealed a diligent ruler.
"Who's there?"
His sharp gaze lifted suddenly.
At some unknown moment, someone had appeared inside the hall.
The sound of armor clanking echoed as soldiers drew their magic swords, forming a protective line in front of the throne.
The intruder was a woman.
Her black curly hair flowed like waves, her face delicate yet striking. She wore a red dress decorated with roses and crystal high heels. Her posture carried both elegance and danger.
A cigarette rested between her lips, smoke curling upward as her purple patterned eyes gleamed with something unsettling.
"You're the king of this place?"
Lucien exhaled a thin stream of smoke, his voice smooth yet cold.
"Who are you?" the king demanded, frowning.
He had never seen this person before, yet instinct told him the situation was dangerous.
Lucien didn't answer.
Instead, he smiled.
A Gatling gun materialized in his hand.
The barrel spun instantly.
Gunfire erupted.
The soldiers didn't even have time to react. Their bodies were torn apart, shredded into bloody chunks. Armor meant nothing, it only delayed the inevitable by a fraction of a second.
Blood sprayed across the hall, turning the polished floor into a red mess.
"You're the one hunting mages."
The king's expression changed drastically as realization struck.
"Correct."
Lucien snapped his fingers lightly, the Gatling still smoking in his grip. Shell casings scattered at his feet, only to dissolve into particles of light moments later.
"You came here to die."
Killing intent surged from the king.
Lucien simply smiled again, unfazed.
A rocket launcher appeared on his shoulder.
Without hesitation, he fired.
A deafening explosion followed.
The palace vanished in an instant, replaced by a towering cloud of fire. The blast spread outward like a storm, devouring everything in its path.
Flames roared across the ground.
The king was blasted away, his body tearing through buildings before crashing into the streets far beyond.
Lucien stepped forward and appeared mid air, his figure hovering as he looked down.
The king slowly rose from the ruins, his white hair disheveled, his crown gone. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
That single attack had injured him.
The rocket launcher's power had reached a terrifying level, strengthened by countless souls gathered over three months of slaughter.
"Boom…"
Magic power surged.
The king floated upward, his presence expanding like a raging beast.
Lucien held the Gatling in one hand and rested the rocket launcher on his shoulder, the cigarette still hanging from his lips.
This opponent was strong.
The strongest he had faced so far, far beyond ordinary S Class mages, likely reaching the level of the Ten Wizard Saints.
The king vanished.
In the next instant, he appeared in front of Lucien, his fist wrapped in dense magic power as it tore through the air.
Lucien's eyes flashed red.
He tilted his body slightly, avoiding the strike by a narrow margin.
At the same time, he raised the Gatling.
It expanded instantly, growing into a massive weapon over ten meters long, coated in Armament Haki.
Then he brought it down.
The king reacted quickly, crossing his arms above his head to block.
The impact was overwhelming.
His body was smashed downward, crashing through buildings before slamming into the ground.
The earth shattered.