"What's wrong? Scared already?" Kaidan sneered when Arlen didn't respond. "And people call you the 'Trembling Noble Prince'? What a joke."
Makarov's expression darkened slightly at those words. His gaze shifted toward Joseph, who stood there with a wide, purple-black grin.
Joseph noticed the look—and smirked back provocatively.
Makarov could tolerate being mocked.
But belittling his people?
That crossed the line.
At that moment—
Arlen moved.
With a flash of teleportation magic, he appeared directly on the arena stage, his cold, indifferent gaze locking onto Kaidan.
The man flinched instinctively, a chill creeping up his spine—
But his arrogance quickly buried that fear.
"So you finally came up like a man," Kaidan mocked. "Too bad—you're still going down!"
Earth-yellow magic surged through his hands. Slamming both palms onto the ground, a magic circle formed—
And sharp earthen spikes erupted beneath Arlen.
Arlen lightly tapped the ground with his foot—
Dodging effortlessly.
Then, in the next instant—
He vanished.
Reappearing behind Kaidan.
A powerful roundhouse kick crashed into his back.
BOOM!
Kaidan was sent flying, smashing straight into his own spikes and getting buried under the rubble.
The entire arena fell silent.
Guild Masters.
Mages.
All stared in shock.
"As expected of Lord Arlen… his teleportation magic is flawless," Jura said solemnly.
"Ahh~ such a captivating presence~" Ichya struck a pose, completely immersed in admiration.
"Didn't even use magic… just pure physical strength?" Bacchus took a swig of alcohol, eyes gleaming with interest. "He'd do well in close combat."
While others marveled—
Joseph's face turned pitch black.
"Useless trash," he cursed inwardly.
"Get up," Arlen said coldly. "I didn't use much strength."
"Or is your power nothing more than empty arrogance?"
"Pathetic."
"BASTARD!!"
Kaidan crawled out from the rubble, disheveled and furious.
"Earth Cannon!"
A spiked earthen sphere shot toward Arlen at high speed.
Arlen didn't dodge.
As the attack reached him—
His hand moved.
In a flash, he drew Alaya-vijnana—
And slashed.
The sphere split cleanly in two.
Falling harmlessly to the ground.
Kaidan froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
His strongest attack—
Effortlessly destroyed.
Arlen felt nothing but disappointment.
The man had barked so loudly—
Yet his strength was barely above someone like Macao or Wakaba.
Among those present, at least four people could defeat him easily.
And yet—
He acted like this?
Arlen moved again.
A blur.
Appearing before Kaidan.
His blade flashed repeatedly—too fast to follow.
A moment later—
He sheathed his sword.
And walked off the stage without looking back.
For a brief second—
Nothing happened.
Then—
Bloodlines appeared across Kaidan's body.
His clothes shredded.
Crimson spread.
He collapsed to his knees.
Trembling.
Eyes filled with terror.
For a moment back there—
He truly thought he was going to die.
The crowd erupted.
"So strong! Still no magic—just swordsmanship!"
"And he held back too! Those wounds look bad, but they're all superficial!"
"Serves him right for being so arrogant!"
Even the previously suppressed guild members felt a wave of relief.
But then—
"You brat…"
Joseph's voice cut through the noise, cold and furious.
"So young, yet so ruthless."
"Let me teach you a lesson in Makarov's place."
Dark magic surged.
A black sphere formed in his hand—
And he hurled it at Arlen.
"Arlen, watch out!"
"Joseph, stop!"
No one expected this.
A Guild Master—
Attacking a junior.
And with a sneak attack.
Arlen's expression turned cold.
His hand moved toward his sword—
But before he could act—
Makarov stepped in front of him.
With a simple wave—
A golden sphere of light met the incoming darkness.
And purified it instantly.
"Joseph!" Makarov's voice thundered with anger. "Attacking a junior? And with a sneak attack?"
"Do you think Fairy Tail has no one?"
"Then let's settle it," Joseph replied coldly, his magic surging even stronger.
"They say we're equals."
"Let's see who's truly stronger."
"Your Fairy Tail—or my Phantom Lord."
Makarov's patience snapped.
He had endured the provocations.
But this—
Was unforgivable.
Golden light erupted from his body.
The air trembled.
Pressure filled the space.
Joseph answered with an explosion of dark magic.
Black and violet energy twisted around him.
The sky itself seemed to split—
Half gold.
Half darkness.
"Everyone, move! Get out of here now!" Goldmine shouted urgently.
He was already cursing Joseph in his heart.
This had gone too far.
Far beyond words.
No one could stop this now.
Only a decisive clash—
Would end it.
Once everyone retreated to safety—
The battle began.
"Dark Beam!"
Joseph struck first.
A massive dark magic circle appeared in the air, unleashing multiple black-violet beams toward Makarov.
"Light Array."
Makarov raised his hand.
Golden magic circles formed in response—
Meeting the attack head-on.
The two forces collided—
Canceling each other out.
Makarov stood firm, eyes locked on Joseph.
His fingers moved subtly across his body, tracing a pattern like the Big Dipper before fading.
"Joseph," he said, voice heavy with restraint, "apologize to Arlen."
"And I'll let this go."
Despite his anger—
He was still thinking of the bigger picture.
A full battle between them—
Could destroy the entire town.
But Joseph only sneered.
"Apologize? To that brat?"
"You think you've already won?"
"Don't make me laugh."
Dark energy gathered in his hand once more.
His eyes burned with cold arrogance.
This fight—
Was inevitable.
—------------------------------
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