Chapter 17: Fighting Laxus! You're Not the Only One Who Can Eat It
"Hey, hey, hey! Kid, is ambushing people with dirty tricks all you've got?!"
Rage filled Zeus's grotesque face. His white body turned pitch-black, and thin arcs of lightning flickered within him.
His sinister voice echoed through the empty lava cavern.
Not far away, Prometheus drifted in front of Ren as well. Flames roared upward, and a devilish face surfaced within the fire, like something crawling out of hell.
"Put the flag down!"
Laxus and Freed walked out from a cave entrance not far away.
Wearing his coat, Laxus didn't even spare Zeus or Prometheus a glance. His eyes locked onto Ren.
Ren stood up and pulled Prometheus and Zeus apart to either side.
"Master, leave that guy to me!"
Shoved aside by Ren, Zeus's voice trembled with fury as he glared at Laxus.
Ren didn't answer. A faint smile rested on his face.
In the next instant, Ren appeared right in front of Laxus.
He clenched his fist and drove a punch straight at Laxus's face.
With a loud boom, Laxus was sent flying, slamming hard into the wall behind him.
"Now we're even."
Ren glanced at Freed, rubbed his wrist, and spoke calmly.
Then Ren turned and walked toward the flag.
"Bastard!"
Lightning crackled across the shattered wall as Laxus burst out of the rubble.
A red punch mark stood out on his face. The slightly battered look made Gildarts laugh from a distance.
Gildarts sat in a corner with his arms crossed, watching the scene.
From his exchange with Ren earlier, he already knew Laxus was no match for Ren.
"Leave him to you three!"
Ren drew the long blade at his waist and tossed it into the air.
A human-like face appeared on the sharp edge.
"Yes, my master!"
Prometheus grinned viciously as he floated up, flames surging.
"Fire from the Sky!"
Streams of flame burst from him, blasting toward Laxus and Freed.
Zeus didn't stay idle either. His black body hovered in midair.
Lightning poured down without pause, and the fireballs that struck the ground exploded instantly.
Laxus and Freed dodged again and again, weaving through the bombardment from Zeus and Prometheus overhead.
In the next moment, a blade flash flickered before Laxus's eyes, slashing straight toward his chest.
"Not good!"
Freed's expression changed. He traced symbols in the air with his finger.
"Steel!"
In the next instant, a slab of steel appeared in front of Laxus, blocking Napoleon's slash.
The steel was cut clean in half, and the remaining force still swept toward Laxus.
But with his guard up, Laxus dodged easily.
Napoleon shot Freed a vicious look and turned to rush him.
"Napoleon, leave that opponent to me!"
Erza, wearing armor, stepped forward and blocked Napoleon's path.
Her eyes were sharp as she stared at Freed, sword in hand.
She glanced toward Ren. After Ren nodded, Napoleon gave a short nod and hid again, waiting for a chance to land a fatal blow on Laxus.
"Damn it! You're just using those things to hold me back? You won't fight me head-on?!"
Forced to dodge Zeus and Prometheus nonstop, Laxus's anger surged.
He roared at Ren, who was sitting near the flag.
Even though Laxus could swallow Zeus's lightning, his attacks were completely ineffective against Zeus and Prometheus.
He tried counterattacking, but it did nothing to them.
In this world, aside from people who use soul magic, very few could deal with Homies.
Ren crossed his arms and watched Laxus scramble around with interest.
He chuckled lightly. "If you can't even handle them, what makes you think you're qualified to be my opponent?"
"Damn it!"
Hearing Ren's calm voice, Laxus's fury spiked.
"Lightning Dragon's Roar!"
He braked hard, stopped abruptly, and planted his right hand on the ground.
Lightning gathered in his mouth.
In the next instant, a lightning-charged breath blast erupted from Laxus, shooting straight toward Zeus and Prometheus in the air.
Zeus's body swelled. He opened his mouth wide and swallowed the lightning breath nonstop.
Laxus's face darkened as he watched Zeus gulp down the attack like it was nothing, his mind racing for a way through.
He hadn't expected Zeus could eat lightning too.
Zeus was made from a true thundercloud, and the power contained within him wasn't something to underestimate.
"Thunderous Judgment!"
Zeus's body inflated larger and larger, thunder booming within him.
With a crack like the sky splitting, a lightning bolt as thick as a barrel dropped from above and slammed toward Laxus.
"Bastard! Don't look down on me!"
Laxus snarled, stomped the ground, and leapt.
He reached both hands toward the barrel-thick lightning, forcing it into his mouth.
"You're not the only one who can eat lightning!"
Laxus roared as he swallowed it down.
A feral grin spread across his face.
"Full. My power's back!"
"Idiot! Move aside!"
Prometheus saw it and immediately understood that Zeus couldn't win a straight contest with Laxus.
He surged forward, shouldering Zeus aside, his flames growing even more violent.
"Stolen Fire!"
Prometheus dove, a streak of fire cutting across the air.
At full speed, his body became a pillar of flame, slamming straight into Laxus.
"Lightning Dragon Crash Fist!"
With nowhere to dodge, Laxus's fist gathered lightning as he chose to meet Prometheus head-on.
Fire and lightning collided. Laxus staggered backward a few steps.
Prometheus was blasted away, crashing down beside Ren.
Prometheus's face twisted with fury, his flames turning even more savage.
"Zeus, Napoleon, come back too."
When Prometheus tried to charge again, Ren reached out and stopped him.
At the same time, he called to Zeus, who was still raining lightning, and to the hidden Napoleon.
Hearing Ren, Zeus glared at Laxus viciously, then returned to Ren's side unwillingly.