However.
The long-planned dark energy crashed down without a pause.
Gildarts, soaring into the sky, was pinned by a pillar of dark magic several tens of meters thick that slammed him into the lake below without any chance to break free.
In an instant, the lake's surface froze into ice, and the enormous Ice Rose Garden that sprang up proved completely ineffective.
Boom—!!!
A tremendous explosion resounded, and everyone's ears began ringing.
The raging pillar of dark magic, still pressing on Gildarts, pierced the frozen lake as intense heat from the explosion rapidly spread outward.
Torrential heat and shockwaves swept in every direction.
The guild members by the lakeside were swept away by the impact, crashing into the guild's walls one after another.
The massive assault of waves and force slammed into the guild, which, resembling a castle, collapsed by over half in an instant.
Gaal was drenched from head to toe and gasping for breath as shattered stones were brushed aside by Gengar, pulling him out.
His mind was in a daze as he shook his head in an attempt to regain his senses, though his ears still buzzed so loudly that he could barely hear anything.
Gaal mustered his strength and used his psychic power to retrieve several bottles of Magic Power Recovery Potion from the space, gulping them down.
He then commanded Gengar: "Take everyone... and go."
Gengar's face showed concern, but after seeing the determined look on Gaal's face, he had no choice but to summon the Gengar Legion to remove the members who were already out of the fight.
Leaning against the shattered remnants of the guild walls, Gaal supported himself and raised a hand to press a spot over his chest, temporarily sealing away his pain.
The buzzing in his ears gradually subsided as he managed to catch his breath, when suddenly he heard the sound of battle boots hitting the ground.
It was Hades, who had left only to return.
Hades strolled over to Gaal; rather than objecting as Gengar took away the inconsequential members, he coolly addressed Gaal: "What a pity, Gaal. Although you managed to research a method that allows 'Fairy Law' to activate for a few seconds, clearly... I have won. Have you lost the power to fight back? Let me guess, is that artifact meant to let 'Fairy Law' run for five to six seconds? No wonder Makarov thought you could contend with me. Then go—leave with your life."
A bitter smile touched Gaal's lips as he replied, "How did you guess?"
Hades answered, "Very simple. Time... is the most impartial thing. Though I may not understand you, I know Makarov well enough—he certainly lacks the talent to create anything comparable to my masterpiece, Lumen Histoire. Gildarts? That's clearly out of the question. And as for Ur—and let alone Ultear—the only person capable of forging such a thing is clearly you. But really, how long have you been a part of Fairy Tail? And how old are you? I've spent more time studying 'Fairy Law' than your entire age. I know all its flaws, inside and out. Without Lumen Histoire, the only way to remedy its shortcomings would be to have an enormous source of Magic Power. Judging by your past experiences, it's obvious you don't possess that. Moreover, considering your previous combat style—using Illusion Magic and angelic transformations—it's clear you have some quick wit, but unfortunately, such wit pales in the face of absolute strength. It makes me suspect that even if you do have something to deploy 'Fairy Law,' you're simply gambling that I will retreat. Clearly, I guessed right, and you... have lost your wager."
Gaal sighed and said, "This is indeed… irrefutable."
Gaal then looked up at the tiny black dot in the sky—the leisurely floating airship—and remarked, "Even so, your magic source should be insufficient, shouldn't it? I hope I'm not mistaken."
Hades raised his hand toward the guild headquarters as dark magic spread downward.
"Do you really prepare only one survival measure? A spare… though it's enough."
Gaal was left speechless, unable to offer any retort.
Hades stated coolly, "Do not use your pathetic life experience to lecture me. Even Gildarts, in my eyes, is nothing more than an impulsive youth. I was once a hunter and fought on battlefields. I took part in mercantile wars that swept across the entire continent. I led Fairy Tail from a dilapidated guild to renown throughout the Fiore Kingdom. I became the strongest Light Wizard on the Ishgar Continent, only to turn to darkness, crushing all opposition and establishing the mightiest Dark Guild. I became the leader of the Balam Alliance, standing against the Magic Council. And what makes you think I will act according to your whims? Is it because of your mere decade or so of life experience? Do you really think that a hundred-year-old, battle-hardened veteran like me is a fool? When it comes to understanding human nature, I figured it all out long ago as a hunter. And you? You're still far too green."
With that, Hades flipped his hand upward and pulled.
Rumble!
The ground trembled as an enormous Magic Crystal, buried deep beneath the earth, was forcibly extracted for a considerable length.
Hades stepped forward and examined the exposed section of the cylindrical giant Magic Crystal, his hand rising to caress it.
"I see… by employing an ancient, superior magic circle to seal individual Magic Crystals into one massive formation and link them together—but these runes are rather peculiar. They do not match the standard ancient runes. No… one should say that these are runes beyond what humans could ever study."
Leaning weakly against the wall, Gaal sighed and murmured, "You can really recognize that?"
He was visibly shaken, though the bitter smile on his face remained, for in the end, he was still too young.
Though his path had been smooth according to the original plan, this old man Hades had unequivocally delivered a harsh blow to Gaal.
A monster who has lived for over a hundred years isn't so easily manipulated by mere tidbits of information. Moreover, this ancient magic circle… even Makarov couldn't recognize it. Yet Hades could—and he even discerned that these runes were far beyond the capacity of human research.
Gaal was truly demoralized.
Gazing at the colossal Magic Crystal segment, Hades remarked admiringly, "What a brilliant idea. And quite lucky, too. Finding even fragments of such ancient runes is no easy feat, yet you managed to obtain a complete formation. But that's where it ends."
After a final shake of his head, Hades fixed his gaze on Gaal.
With murderous intent clearly shining in his eyes, he raised his hand—the sleeve suddenly spewing dark chains that ensnared Gaal tightly—and declared, "I wonder if your life is worth enough for Makarov to surrender Lumen Histoire."
Gaal sighed again, the desolation on his face slightly receding.
Crack, crack, crack, crack!
A sudden shattering sound emanated from his chest, and several fragments of his amulet tumbled from his bosom onto the ground, their inherent aura unmistakable.
Hades then spoke, "A futile effort. My dark magic has already sealed off this space. You cannot teleport out."
Gaal looked up with a slight smile and countered, "Who said I wanted to be teleported?"
Hades's brow furrowed as magical pulses stirred in the sky.
He abruptly looked upward just as Gaal's voice rang out: "Do you really only prepare one life-saving measure? Last time, the space was sealed off."
A massive silver-white magic circle materialized in the sky a kilometer above Magnolia Town, and Makarov's aura began to overflow as the circle illuminated.
Below that silver-white circle was the Grimoire Heart Guild's airship—the very source of Hades's dark magic power.
"So… this time the location is in the sky."
The silver-white magic circle above blazed brilliantly.
From within that luminous formation emerged a giant, every hair on display, as Makarov's enraged shout resounded: "Hades!!!"