The frenzied Magnetic Field Power materialized into a tangible crimson aura, wildly expanding around Hope. The rock layer beneath his feet instantly cracked like a spiderweb.
The moment his right fist transformed into a sword and swung out, the air was brutally torn apart. The hell-piercing crimson aura and the power of Magnetic Field Rotation completely fused, transforming into a spiral impact of intertwined scarlet and pitch-black, piercing straight through the black hole in mid-air.
Only a sharp, piercing shriek of being punctured.
The black hole created by Zeref trembled violently the instant it made contact with the spiral impact, then exploded like shattered glass, scattering dark purple magic fragments everywhere.
And that spiral impact, its momentum undiminished, charged straight at Zeref himself!
"Not magic..."
A serious glint flashed in Zeref's eyes. He clasped his hands together in front of his chest and softly chanted, "Black Magic · Coفر."
The space within a ten-meter radius instantly became blurry. The spiral impact Hope had launched seemed to sink into a quagmire, its direction bizarrely deflected, exploding into a water column tens of meters high on the sea surface hundreds of meters away.
It was actually a spatial-type magic capable of redirecting attacks.
Hope's eyes lit up. While signaling the system to record it, he planned to trick Zeref into using a few more spells. He pushed off with his foot, Magnetic Field Power propelling his body forward like a cannonball.
Wherever he passed, rubble floated into the air and the air exploded with sound. The obstruction of Black Magic · Coفر couldn't even hold for a second before Hope forcibly broke through.
Zeref's eyebrows raised slightly. He neither dodged nor avoided. He was a traditionalist Mage; although he enjoyed the feeling of exchanging spells, he knew a little bit of close combat.
"Black Magic · Iron Wrist!"
Zeref raised his left hand, actually catching Hope's fist, which was only at fifty percent strength, firmly in his palm.
Fifty thousand horses of Magnetic Field Power clashed against the Black Wizard's bottomless magic power. The cliff rock layer beneath their feet sank half a foot with a thunderous crash.
But at the same time, Zeref's right hand traced a pattern in the air before him. A silver light flashed around him, and spatial shackles instantly formed, tightly binding Hope's limbs and torso.
Black Magic · Imprisonment.
In just a few seconds of confrontation, the magic Zeref had used already involved elements, space, physical Enhancement, and control, and each spell's power was quite formidable.
Truly worthy of being the progenitor of Black Magic.
Although Hope was imprisoned, his gaze grew even more fervent. Hearing the system's prompt tones continuously coming as it recorded spells, he was practically overjoyed inside.
Black Magic personally cast by the Black Wizard was a unique existence.
Having harvested a few Black Magic spells, that was about enough.
Hope rotated his magnetic field, his arms giving a fierce shake. The magic chains imprisoning him instantly shattered. He shouted lowly, "Let's try the combination of Magnetic Field Power and magic!"
"Magnetic Field Rotation · Seventy Thousand Horses Power!"
"Mana · Heavenly Thunder Overlord Body!"
Magnetic Field Power and thunder power violently fused within Hope's body. His hair stood on end, purple-gold electric sparks danced around him, and the power in his fist surged once again.
Zeref's pupils contracted. He felt the space before him seemed to be shattered by that strange energy mixed with thunder emanating from his opponent.
"Hah—!"
Hope's fist pushed forward fiercely. Zeref was blasted backward, sliding over ten meters, his feet plowing two deep furrows in the rocky ground.
After steadying himself, Zeref looked down at his left hand, which had been strengthened by Black Magic. The entire arm was charred black, the magic and curse beneath the skin rapidly repairing the wound.
"An attack that can injure my body..."
He looked up, a barely perceptible smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "In 400 years, you are the fifth existence capable of injuring me."
"Oh? Should I be honored?"
Hope shook his numb right hand. "And who are the other four?"
Zeref introduced, "Igneel and 'August' you already know. The other two are the mother of dragon slayers, and... the Black Dragon."
Fire Dragon King · Igneel's strength as a dragon king was unquestionable.
"August," at over eighty years old, had mastered almost all the magic in the world. This cheat wasn't any worse than Hope's.
As for the Black Dragon, immune to magic, it went without saying. As the big boss, not only could it injure Zeref, Hope wouldn't even be surprised if it hung him up and beat him.
But the last person who could injure Zeref, the mother of dragon slayers... wasn't that Erza's mother, Irene?
When Belserion spoke of Irene's experiences in Twilight Town, there was no mention of Zeref at all. At the very least, it could be confirmed they hadn't fought 400 years ago.
Hope casually dispersed Zeref's magic. "Do you know where Irene is?"
Zeref was taken aback, then thought of the red-haired girl who had been with Hope earlier. "So that's it, she is that child... It seems she survived quite well."
This guy recognized Erza as Irene's daughter?!
It seemed his relationship with Irene was no worse than Belserion's.
"Not well at all."
Hope interrupted Zeref, who was lost in sentiment. "Erza was kidnapped as a child by the Dark Magic Cult that worships you, made a slave, and forced to build your 'R System'."
Zeref:... His sins were by now too numerous to count.
Hope took a step forward. The surrounding air grew heavy under an invisible pressure. "Better answer my question first. Where is Irene?"
"Want to know Irene's whereabouts?"
Zeref gave a sinister, charming smile, his usually calm expression unusually broken. He said, "Then you must first prove to me that you possess the power to kill me."
Heh, still setting conditions with me.
"Fine! Zeref, to show respect for a special existence like you... this time, I will use ten-tenths of my power."
He clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and in an instant, all his fighting spirit and imposing aura vanished without a trace. The throbbing veins on his forehead smoothed out, and he suddenly became completely calm.
Zeref didn't understand what this guy was up to, but since the other party said he would use ten-tenths of his strength, he himself would not hold back.
He slowly raised his hands. The space behind him seemed torn open by an invisible hand, revealing a profound darkness.
"Black Magic · Ultimate Darkness!"
Soundless, formless, boundless darkness instantly swallowed Hope.
But Hope, on the verge of sinking into the darkness, suddenly opened his eyes. A flash of sharp light shone in them, and all his dormant imposing aura and dominance instantly erupted.
Gathering all his power, releasing a world-overturning force at the moment of the punch... For Erza, unleash the Whale Slaying Overlord Fist on Zeref!
"Magnetic Field Rotation! Complete Power! Complete Speed! Complete State!"
"Wuji Zen Tremor!!"
"Yah!"
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