— — — — — —
Makarov was rushing over with the others when the air suddenly erupted with a massive surge of magic above them.
He slowed to a stop, staring blankly at the sky.
"That… that magic. It's that brat's aura."
"Did he... defeat Jose, one of the Ten Wizard Saints?"
Makarov muttered under his breath, still unable to believe it, eyes locked on the enormous magical eruption tearing through the clouds.
For a moment, it all felt unreal.
How long had it been? Barely a year since that kid, who'd known absolutely nothing about magic, first showed up… and now he'd grown into someone capable of defeating one of the continent's strongest mages.
In that instant, Makarov felt old. Time really did fly too fast.
"So strong… what insane magic."
"And that's not even the Gate of Babylon magic he usually uses. This is pure, raw magic overflowing."
"To release a blast that powerful… unbelievable."
Everyone in the guild was frozen in shock, staring at what looked like the sky itself being ripped apart.
Their minds went blank. Honestly, the only coherent reaction left in their heads was just: "holy shit."
Mirajane stared up at the scene, and suddenly remembered something Kazuma once told her.
Why work so hard to get stronger?
So that when the day comes and you face something impossible, you don't have to collapse in helpless despair… you can break through it with everything you have.
"He really did it."
Right then, Erza came running out with Lucy and Juvia. Her adamantine armor, normally tough as steel, was cracked all over.
"Erza! Lucy! And… someone I don't know!"
Makarov rushed over to support her. "Are you three alright?"
"We're fine. The magic pressure was just too overwhelming, made it hard to breathe for a moment."
"But Juvia's hurt. She needs treatment."
Erza exhaled in relief when she saw everyone safe. She handed Lucy and Juvia to the guild members and turned to head back toward the battlefield.
"Mira, everyone, take care of Lucy and Juvia. Erza and I are going to find Kazuma."
Makarov looked worried. With an explosion of magic like that, Kazuma had probably burned himself out completely.
The kid was likely lying somewhere in the rubble right now, unable to move. He had to hurry before the kid got buried.
"Yes, Master."
"Master, let us go help—"
"You're not strong enough. If you get too close, that pressure alone will crush you. Stay back and hold the perimeter."
"...I changed my mind. Erza, you aren't going either. You're in terrible shape. I'll handle this myself."
He didn't wait for anyone to object. He sprinted toward Phantom Lord's ruins.
Erza started to go after him but stopped. She remembered his words, sighed, and stayed put.
She really wasn't in great shape. She'd already spent a ton of magic driving the magic vehicle at full speed to get here, and resisting Kazuma's magic surge afterward had drained her even further.
"Alright, stop trying to act tough. Rest."
Mira quickly began administering first aid. Erza and Lucy were mostly okay, but Juvia clearly needed real healing.
Everyone jumped into action.
---
Meanwhile, hidden far away, Yakoda had snuck over and was pretending to be cautious… while screaming internally.
"Big news! This is huge!"
"Phantom Lord, one of the major guilds, defeated by Fairy Tail! And Fairy Tail's Kazuma beat a Wizard Saint!"
"He even released an attack that shattered the sky!"
"The guy risked everything for the girl he loved! So coool~ A hero driven by love!"
"No wait, not one girl… two… actually make it three… and then…"
"And I should add the reactions of the Fairy Tail members!"
"Oh, oh, and add how the guild master Makarov rushed out alone to retrieve his kid!"
"The headline will be shocking!!"
Yakoda genuinely didn't feel like she was lying… just artistically enhancing things a tiny bit for the sake of sales.
"Oh right, photos! I need photos! Proof makes the story!"
She whipped out her expensive magic camera and snapped shots of the distant explosion.
When she checked the film—
"Waaaaah! It's all white! Completely washed out!"
"My precious magic camera! Even from this far away it got overpowered!"
"How is the magic still this strong at this distance… and my yearly bonus is gone!"
Yakoda wailed. She was so far away yet still affected. How ridiculous was Kazuma's magic?
Then she imagined returning to the office and seeing the chief's reaction when she reported she'd fried another camera.
(Yakoda, you're fired. Get out. No wait, you still owe me money. You're working for me till you die.)
"Waaaaahhhh…"
Her vacation, gone. Her bonus, gone. Her days of leisurely eating fancy little cakes… gone.
No more desserts. Only longing. Only tears.
"No! I'll draw it! If the camera's dead, I'll sketch the whole damn thing! Whether I can eat cake again depends on this scoop!"
In an instant she cheered herself up.
No difficulties? Create some. Got difficulties? Overcome them.
A true corporate worker. A horse of the workforce. The spirit of labor!
---
Meanwhile, near Fairy Tail's guild, Mystogan quietly watched from a distance.
"Hmm. That magic signature… Kazuma again."
"His strength keeps rising. At this point, other than the Master and Gildarts…"
"No one in the guild can match him."
As the violent magic pressure washed over him, his fingers trembled slightly.
"Seriously, where did everyone even go? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
After admiring Kazuma's strength for a moment, Mystogan hurried toward the source of the magic blast, confusion written all over his face.
He'd rushed back the second he heard the news, only to find the guild empty. It wasn't like he was that antisocial… couldn't they have waited for him?
Everyone in Fairy Tail had gone out for a group event.
And guess who didn't get invited?
Mystogan.
— — —
Meanwhile, Laxus, who had just finished smashing a branch of Phantom Lord and was heading back to watch the spectacle, felt that same burst of magic from afar.
"This annoying magic again. That guy Kazuma… it's only been a few days and he's even more dangerous than last time."
Laxus's expression tightened. He looked reckless, but he wasn't stupid. He didn't pick fights he wasn't prepared for.
Originally he thought that if he really cut loose, he might be able to overpower Kazuma. But now? That idea was gone.
"Tch. Trouble."
He clicked his tongue, already losing interest in checking out the scene. Now, he had something more important to do.
---
Elsewhere, Gajeel, finally patched up by a doctor and having crunched down enough iron to recover a bit of stamina, froze as the magic pulse washed over him.
"That… that terrifying magic!"
"Did Master Jose… lose?"
He stared at the pillar of magic in the distance. He could never forget that aura. The guy who knocked him out with one punch had left an unforgettable impression.
Recognition came instantly, followed by disbelief.
That guy had gone to fight Jose… and now only his magic was flaring, with no trace of Jose's.
Which meant only one thing: Jose had lost. Phantom Lord had been destroyed by a single person.
Top to bottom. The Master, the Element 4, himself, all the branch guilds. Everything wiped out in a single day.
Gajeel felt shock fading into pure confusion.
"So Phantom Lord is gone… what am I supposed to do now?"
"Go get revenge on that monster?"
The fierce pride in his eyes vanished, replaced only with a deep, empty helplessness. He didn't know where he was supposed to go.
Take revenge on Kazuma? He wasn't delusional. He wouldn't last a second. That'd be suicide.
But if not revenge… then what?
He had no home. No family. No place to return to. No one to follow. He had nowhere to go at all.
---
Back at Phantom Lord's ruins, the pillar of magic finally faded.
"Kazuma! Kazuma, you brat! If you're alive, answer me! I'm coming to get you!"
Makarov called out as he stood before the collapsed remains of Phantom Lord's headquarters, worry twisting his face. He was terrified that Kazuma had exhausted all his magic and ended up buried under the rubble.
He sprinted forward, listening desperately for even the faintest sound.
"Old man, what're you yelling for? You make it sound like I died."
Kazuma stepped out of the debris, clothes intact, not even scratched.
At most, the edge of his coat was a little dirty.
"You brat, don't say unlucky things like that! And how are you still standing? You didn't burn through your magic?"
Makarov first felt relief… then total shock.
After unleashing magic that strong, how was this kid walking around like nothing happened?
Did he think magic was free?
"It's fine. I used a lot, sure. Maybe half my reserves."
"When we get back, I seriously need to train more. I wasted way too much energy. I really thought control and skill didn't matter that much… turns out I was completely wrong."
"I can only use this move twice... so wasteful..."
Kazuma shook his head in annoyance. He'd pushed out around eighty units of magic power, but only got forty units of effect.
The waste was insane. His control still wasn't good enough.
"Do you even hear yourself talking?! You one-shot a Wizard Saint. There are only ten in the whole damn continent!"
"And from your tone, it sounds like you want to use that spell as a basic attack! Are you serious?!"
Makarov was losing it. That kind of power would leave most people drained for days. Kazuma? He just looked slightly sweaty.
At this point, Makarov was starting to suspect the kid had secretly dug up Fairy Heart and stuck it inside himself.
"I mean, why not? The move works pretty well. Isn't Saitama the same? I want my basic punch to be the ultimate, deadly finisher for everyone too."
Kazuma nodded to himself. Once he got used to it, he really could make this a basic move.
"You… I don't even know what half those words mean."
"But that move is something most people treat as a forbidden spell. A last-resort, terrifying finisher. And you want to treat it as… regular magic?"
"I really want to report you to the Magic Council."
Makarov had lived through countless storms, but this? This was a new species of insanity.
"Anyway, enough of that. Master, didn't you say that once Jose was dealt with, you'd make me guild master?"
"Come on, hand over the position. I'm super popular right now. I'll lead Fairy Tail to greatness."
Kazuma reminded him without hesitation.
"Hmm… I don't remember saying I'd retire. I said I'd think about it. And enough nonsense. Did Jose die or run?" Makarov switched to shameless mode instantly.
"Dead. I killed him with one punch. Dead dead. Even scattered his ashes. No revival problem at all."
Kazuma answered calmly.
"You sure sounded confident before the fight, but how am I supposed to explain this to the Magic Council now…? My head hurts."
Makarov could feel more hair preparing to abandon him. The kids caused chaos, and now it was his job to clean it up.
But this time was too big. How was he even supposed to begin explaining?
Maybe he should just go to the Council building and faint dramatically at their doorstep.
"Old man, you think I'm Natsu? I always cover my tracks. Look at this."
Kazuma pulled a magic recording lacrima from his treasure vault, then activated it.
The crystal displayed footage of Jose threatening Lucy, planning to kidnap her and squeeze her family for money, and plotting against Fiore itself.
What, did you think Kazuma had been standing behind the door just to show off? He was recording evidence.
"With this in hand, we don't wait for the Magic Council to come for us. We go to them."
"Phantom Lord kidnapped one of our members and tried to kill me. Outrageous behavior."
Kazuma stated it confidently.
"Wait… tried to kill you? Didn't you attack them first…?"
Makarov blinked, brain stalling.
"The loyal members are all pretty dead. Who knows what happened exactly. If I say they ambushed me, then they ambushed me."
"It was self-defense. They couldn't beat me and died on their own. If you don't believe it, revive them and ask."
Kazuma snorted. History was written by the victor. Phantom Lord was dead, so his version was the only version.
Makarov stared at him, stunned.
You'd think he was lying… except he wasn't. Phantom Lord really had struck first. And they really did hit back.
But something about the way Kazuma was saying it… sounded exactly like a villain.
"Is this even allowed…?"
Makarov whispered, completely at a loss.
.
.
.