"Lightning Dragon's..."
Laxus relied on the robust physique granted by his Dragon Slayer Magic to engage Erza in close quarters.
However, not only did he fail to gain any advantage, but he was also being subtly suppressed by Erza, who was four years his junior.
"She's a monster!"
Cursing internally at her brute strength, Laxus immediately retreated, attempting to defeat Erza with ranged attacks.
"Soaring Slash!"
Erza's gaze sharpened. She seemed to have anticipated what magic Laxus intended to use.
Utilizing the swordsmanship Ide had taught her, she cleanly unleashed a magnificent slash capable of cleaving through lightning.
BOOM!
The slash was fast and ferocious, plowing a furrow ten centimeters wide, half a meter deep, and twenty meters long into the guild's wooden floor as it hurtled straight toward Laxus.
"...Roar!"
At that exact moment, Laxus released his breath attack.
BOOM!
When Laxus's Roar collided with Erza's Soaring Slash, the terrifying lightning was instantly scattered.
It turned into balls of electric light that struck indiscriminately, instantly reducing dozens of tables in the guild hall to charcoal.
"What?!"
Not far away, Cana watched the astonishing combat power displayed by Laxus and Erza, her pupils trembling.
She wondered inwardly, "Is my father, Gildarts, really this powerful too?"
"Erza, you've gotten stronger."
Realizing that even a move on the level of the Lightning Dragon's Roar couldn't deal a decisive blow to Erza, the nonchalance on Laxus's face finally faded, replaced by a serious expression.
"You're not weak either, Laxus."
Holding her longsword, Erza stared resolutely at Laxus. She was ready to counterattack at any moment; the second Laxus made a mistake, victory would be hers.
"Heh."
"You say I'm not weak?"
"Interesting!"
"Then try this on for size!"
Laxus sneered. His eyes were as sharp as thunderbolts, and violent magic power wrapped around his body.
With a wave of his hand, a magic circle bearing the crest of a golden dragon appeared above his head.
He reached into the magic circle and pulled out a sharp, halberd forged from pure lightning.
"Take this!"
"Lightning Dragon's Halberd!"
As he spoke, Laxus hurled the halberd, formed from infinite condensed lightning, viciously toward Erza.
"Father's Personal Techinque... Divine Departure."
Erza's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.
Magic power and materialized willpower—Haki—surged from her body like a wild horse slipping its reins, gathering in her arms and extending into the longsword held in her hands.
With a forceful swing, a crimson slash flew out to meet the halberd Laxus had thrown.
"Not good!"
"If those two spells collide, the entire guild hall is toast!"
Nearby, Wakaba and Macao, who had been watching the show, suddenly shivered.
Noticing that the magic Laxus and Erza were using had clearly escalated beyond a simple sparring match, cold sweat poured down their foreheads.
BOOM!
Just as Laxus's full-power Lightning Dragon's Halberd and Erza's slash were about to make contact, Ide appeared between them like a phantom.
He swatted Erza's slash into nothingness with one hand, as if swatting a fly.
With his other hand, he caught the incoming Lightning Dragon's Halberd and crushed it instantly with a gentle squeeze.
"Alright, that's enough games for today."
"If you keep fighting, the old man is going to kill me."
Standing between Laxus and Erza, Ide glanced at the guild hall, which had already been wrecked by the shockwaves of their battle. He sighed helplessly.
He could already imagine the scene when Old Man Makarov returned: hugging Ide's leg, crying, and wailing about the repair costs.
Makarov: "Ide! My money! My money!!"
"Haha!"
"Ide, you finally came out!"
"I've been waiting for you!"
"Today is the day I defeat you and become the strongest wizard in Fairy Tail!"
Seeing Ide finally take action, Laxus was instantly thrilled.
The magic power in his body erupted once more. He transformed into a bolt of lightning, circling directly behind Ide.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art..."
"Laxus wasn't even using his full strength just now?!"
Sensing the magic power exploding from Laxus, Erza was slightly startled. She realized that the Lightning Dragon's Halberd wasn't even his strongest spell.
"I told you."
"Behave yourself!"
While Erza was shocked by Laxus's power and the other guild members closed their eyes, unable to watch the impending violence, Ide finally moved.
He caught the fist Laxus swung at him with one hand.
Then, with a casual flick toward the sky, the invincible Laxus was launched like a rocket.
He punched a human-shaped hole through the guild's ceiling and vanished into the horizon.
WHOOSH!
SPLASH!
Seconds later, in the artificial lake several hundred meters away from the Fairy Tail guild.
Accompanied by the sound of breaking wind, Laxus, who had been thrown out by Ide, made a smooth landing into the water.
"Hahahaha!"
After seeing Laxus get one-shotted by Ide, the guild hall erupted in raucous laughter.
Everyone shook their heads. "As expected, Laxus got one-shotted again!"
"Strong."
"Too strong."
On the side, the newcomer Cana stood frozen like a statue.
She shook her head repeatedly. "That blond boy and Erza were already strong, but Ide's strength is on another level entirely."
"Is my father really this strong too?"
Cana couldn't help but whisper.
"Isn't that obvious?"
Cana's muttering happened to be overheard by Wakaba passing by.
He laughed and educated Cana, "Cana, have a little faith in your father! Gildarts is a guy whose strength is inversely proportional to his morals!"
"Strength is inversely proportional to morals?"
Cana looked up at Wakaba, puzzled.
"Exactly."
"As terrible as Gildarts is as a person, that's how powerful he is as a wizard."
"He is one of the strongest wizards in Fairy Tail. Alongside the other strongest, Ide, they are known as the 'Twin Walls of Fairy Tail'."
Wakaba explained.
"The 'Twin Walls'... on par with Ide?!"
Cana's pupils constricted slightly as she muttered in disbelief.
"That's right."
Wakaba nodded with a smile.
It was common knowledge that as long as Ide and Gildarts were around, the Fairy Tail guild was invincible.
"Alright."
"Now that the brat Laxus has been dealt with."
"It's time to check your homework."
"Prepare yourselves, my daughters."
After one-shotting Laxus, Ide turned his sharp gaze onto his daughters.
"Ugh."
Under Ide's scrutiny, both Erza and Ultear shivered, looks of panic appearing in their eyes.
Ide's homework for them wasn't just magic training; it included math, literature, geography, and many other academic subjects.
Ide: "Even if you don't use it in the future, a qualified wizard cannot be illiterate!"
CREAK.
"Ide, long time no see~"
Just at this critical moment, the doors of the Fairy Tail guild were pushed open once again.
Ur walked into the guild, smiling as she greeted Ide.