"Eh? Bluenote actually lost?"
In the heart of Tenrou Island, Hades, who was locked in a fierce exchange with his old friend Warrod Sequen, suddenly displayed a look of genuine surprise.
He had sensed Bluenote's magic power flare up in a massive burst, only to plummet instantly and fail to recover.
Clearly, Bluenote had encountered a powerful master and had been dealt with efficiently. This result was beyond his expectations.
According to his calculations, no one currently in Fairy Tail should have posed a threat to Bluenote.
Makarov had been beaten into a coma by his own hand; even if the old man had been rescued, there was no way he could return to the fray so soon. Warrod was stuck right here in front of him, Brain was pinning down Jellal, and Ultear, Laxus, and Mystogan were busy dealing with the Underworld King's "games."
Even Erza, who offered a modicum of threat, was currently in a death match against Kyôka, the head of the Nine Demon Gates. The remaining wizards were, at best, entry-level S-Class; they should have been crushed by Bluenote's gravity magic regardless of their numbers.
"Could it be... that brat?"
A look of realization dawned on Hades' face.
"So, he really does possess Heavenly King-level strength. I need to end this battle quickly."
If there was anyone left who could stand against Bluenote, the only person Hades could think of was Fairy Tail's rising star—the boy known as the youngest of the Ten Wizard Saints, Son Goku. To defeat the likes of Jose and Laxus, his Saint-level power was indisputable.
However, according to the intel gathered from Ultear, Goku hadn't been at the guild recently. He had reportedly traveled to another continent to train. Indeed, during the initial skirmish this morning, Goku had been nowhere to be found.
Now, it appeared the boy had arrived on the scene, and his strength was even greater than the rumors suggested.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible to defeat Bluenote so rapidly. Bluenote wasn't just any Saint; he bordered on the power of the Four Gods of Ishgar. A Saint like Jose wouldn't have lasted a few rounds against him.
"Precht, stop this. It's not too late to turn back!"
Warrod looked at his former comrade with a gaze full of sorrow, attempting one last plea.
Hades shook his head, a cold sneer playing on his lips.
"Warrod, you're still so naive. Why couldn't you just stay in retirement? You insisted on wading into these muddy waters to oppose me. Don't blame me for disregarding our old friendship."
If Warrod hadn't dealt with his subordinate, Azuma, this battle would have ended long ago. Azuma had mastered the Lost Magic Hades himself had taught him: Great Tree Arc, which granted absolute control over trees and plant life.
The original plan was for Azuma to use his magic to parasitize the Tenrou Tree. By doing so, every wizard belonging to Fairy Tail would have had their magic power suppressed and weakened. Tenrou Island was the sacred ground of Fairy Tail; its wizards received a divine blessing of strength here, largely due to the Tenrou Tree.
If Azuma had succeeded, that blessing would have vanished, replaced by a crushing suppression fueled by the tree's own terrifying magical reservoir.
Unfortunately, the moment Azuma moved to infest the tree, his intentions were detected by Warrod, a master of Nature Magic. Though Azuma used Lost Magic, the gap in raw power between him and Warrod was too vast. Warrod had forcibly interrupted the parasitism and left Azuma severely wounded.
"Precht, do you truly wish to destroy the guild Mavis built with her own hands?" Warrod asked as a final attempt.
The mention of her name caused Hades to stiffen. His expression flickered with a complex array of emotions, but ultimately, his resolve hardened.
"Mavis is dead. Even Mavis died... so what does it matter if the guild she founded remains? Only by entering the Ultimate Magic World and finding the Black Wizard Zeref can everyone find true happiness."
He reached up and pulled off his eyepatch, revealing the crimson Devil's Eye. Instantly, the magic power within him surged violently.
"I don't have time to play games with you anymore. You couldn't beat me back then, and you certainly can't beat me now."
"What!?"
Feeling the erupting magic and the sheer pressure radiating from Hades, Warrod's face filled with shock.
"How can your magic power be this immense?"
If their powers had been somewhat balanced moments ago, Hades' magic had now multiplied several times over.
"Because I mastered the ultimate essence of the Magic Way long ago. I possess endless life and infinite magic!" Hades raised his hand slowly, his voice cool and brimming with absolute confidence.
"Black Magic: Amaterasu Formula 100!"
Seven layers of black magic seals surrounded Warrod. A massive explosion roared through the sky. When the smoke cleared, Warrod—one of the Four Gods of Ishgar—lay on the ground, heavily injured and drifting in and out of consciousness.
"As expected of a master of Nature Magic; your life force is remarkably stubborn. Allow your old friend to send you on your final journey."
Hades walked to the fallen Warrod and mimicked the gesture of a handgun aimed directly at his head. A Dark Bullet shot out, streaking toward the center of Warrod's brow. This enhanced bullet was no weaker than the ultimate move of an S-Class wizard. If it hit the defenseless Warrod now, even his legendary vitality wouldn't be enough to save him.
Seeing the dark bullet approaching, Warrod felt no fear. He only sighed softly. If I hadn't left the guild all those years ago, perhaps you wouldn't have fallen into darkness.
Precht had always possessed an abnormal obsession with the peak of magic.
That obsession had only intensified after they met their master, Zeref, and witnessed what "true" magic looked like. Back then, the bonds between their comrades had acted as a tether, keeping Precht's pursuit within reasonable bounds.
But then Mavis died. Warrod left. Yuri died. Of the founders, only Precht remained. Warrod couldn't help but wonder: if he had stayed, would Precht have avoided this path?
Just as he prepared to close his eyes and embrace death, a small figure suddenly appeared beside him. Two fingers reached out, casually catching the Dark Bullet mid-air.
"Phew, that was close! Almost didn't make it!"
Goku crushed the Dark Bullet between his fingers and let out a sigh of relief.
After dealing with Bluenote, he and Dumbledore had been on a "Search and Rescue" rampage across the island. They had already taken down Zoldeo of the Seven Kin, Midnight of the Oración Seis, and Doriate of Tartaros, along with a host of fodder from the three dark guilds.
They had successfully rescued Cana, Lyon, Elfman, Evergreen, Bisca, Alzack, Wakaba, and the others.
He had been about to head toward Gray and Juvia when he sensed Warrod's Ki plummeting to the brink of extinction. He had immediately changed course to intervene here.
"So, you're the Grimoire Heart Master, Hades? From now on, I'll be your opponent!