In the northeastern part of the Kingdom of Fiore, in Oak Town, lay the guild hall of Phantom Lord.
It was a stone building with a gloomy style, like a giant tombstone, exuding an unwelcoming chill even in broad daylight.
At this moment, however, the building's interior was bustling with voices, filled with morbid revelry and clamor.
"Hahaha! So satisfying! Way too satisfying!"
"I heard Fairy Tail's nest of scum got completely smashed!"
"Gajeel even nailed a few of those clueless Fairy Tail guys to a tree like dead dogs!"
"Serves them right! Always acting so arrogant! The strongest guild? In front of us Phantoms, they're nothing!"
In the grand hall, mages with faces either ferocious or sleazy gathered together, drinking from large bowls and laughing loudly.
The air was thick with the stench of cheap alcohol, sweat, and swelling malice.
"Speaking of which, Gajeel was really ruthless this time. The sound of those iron rods piercing through bone, tsk tsk..."
"What's there to be afraid of? You have to be ruthless with those Fairy Tail weaklings! Let them know who's boss!"
"Once Master Jose gets that massive commission fee and swallows up Fairy Tail's resources, our Phantom Lord will dominate Fiore!"
Just as this group was immersed in their deluded dreams of violence and ambition, feeling utterly invincible—
BOOM——————!!!!
With a deafening roar, the guild hall's heavy, iron-banded main doors, along with a good portion of the wall, were blasted inward as if struck head-on by an invisible giant hammer, instantly shattering into countless pieces!
"AHHH!!"
"What's happening?!"
"Enemy attack?!"
Amidst the billowing dust and smoke, a tall figure cloaked in black like a god of death returned from hell stepped slowly into the hall over the wreckage.
The dust parted automatically around him, revealing a handsome yet frigid face.
Beneath his black hair, a pair of eyes burning with dark golden flames swept emotionlessly over every panicked Phantom mage in the hall.
All the Phantom Lord mages felt an indescribable, terrifying pressure, as if an icy iron hand was gripping their throats, making it difficult to breathe.
The young man before them clearly wasn't emitting any earth-shattering magical fluctuations, but his absolute calm and his indifferent gaze, regarding them as mere ants, were more chilling than any roaring demon.
"Where is Gajeel?" Ace spoke.
His voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears like ice grinding against ice—devoid of warmth, yet containing a killing intent that could freeze the soul.
After a brief, dead silence, a burly man who seemed to be a leader regained his senses and roared, his voice fierce but his heart trembling.
"Who—who are you?! How dare you trespass into a Phantom Lord guild hall! Guys, get him!"
Emboldened by alcohol and numbers, seven or eight nearby Phantom mages howled and unleashed their magic.
Fireballs, ice spikes, wind blades, and earth spikes flew chaotically toward Ace!
Faced with this messy assault, Ace didn't even lift an eyelid.
He simply raised his right hand casually, fingers spread, and made a gentle clenching motion.
Voom—
There was no earth-shattering explosion.
All the spells hurtling toward him came to an abrupt halt as if they had hit an invisible wall three meters away.
They froze, solidified, and then, like fragile glassware, silently shattered into motes of primordial magic power, dissipating into the air!
It was as if those spells were nothing more than soap bubbles blown by a child.
"Wh-what?!" The mages stared dumbfounded.
Without even using magic—he had crushed their attacks with his bare hands?
"I'll ask one last time," Ace lowered his hand, his dark eyes reflecting the burly leader's fear. "Where is Gajeel?"
"M-monster! Everyone, attack! Kill him!" The burly man shrieked, leaping backward to hide behind the crowd.
More Phantom mages were incited.
Driven by fear, they roared and charged forward.
Well... at least he had given them a chance.
There was no grand display, only a slaughter so fast it was extreme.
His figure moved like a phantom, weaving through the dense barrage of magic.
Each time he appeared, it was accompanied by the dull thud of breaking bones and short, shrill screams.
His fists, palms, fingers, and elbows, coated in a faint crimson-gold Digital Soul, became the deadliest of weapons.
A punch shattered an ice shield and the chest behind it.
A palm strike dispersed a ball of flames and smashed a swordsman into the floor.
A spinning kick sliced three summoned beasts in half.
It took less than a minute.
When Ace's figure solidified again in the center of the hall, his black clothes were still neat, unstained by even a speck of dust.
The Phantom Lord mages lay strewn across the ground, silenced.
Suddenly, he felt a ferocious, savage magic power filled with the essence of steel rapidly approaching.
"Found you."
A tall figure, bathed in the cold moonlight of the courtyard, blocked the doorway.
Long black hair, studs piercing his face, and a custom black combat suit outlining lean muscles—it was none other than the Iron Dragon Slayer, Gajeel Redfox.
"Hey, hey, hey..." Gajeel licked his lips, his voice hoarse and metallic.
His gaze swept over the hall behind Ace, trembling with excitement. "You've got some nerve, bastard. Are you one of Fairy Tail's scum?"
"Gajeel," Ace said calmly.
"You know my name? That makes things easier." Gajeel cracked his neck.
A silver-gray aura like metallic dust began to emanate from his body. "Perfect. I didn't have enough fun with the 'nails' during the day. I'll test my iron fists on your bones!"
The ground beneath Gajeel exploded as he shot forward like a cannonball, wrapped in a whirlwind of steel, throwing a punch straight at Ace's face!
Ace met the attack with a punch of his own, crimson-gold light flowing over his fist.
CLANG—!!!
The collision produced a metallic boom like a great bell tolling!
A shockwave exploded, shattering the floor tiles and shaking the entire hall.
"What?!" Gajeel shook his stinging arm, shock on his face.
He had been at a disadvantage in a pure contest of strength?
"Your iron isn't hard enough," Ace commented flatly.
"Bastard! Don't look down on me!" Gajeel roared.
"Descend—MetalGreymon!"
"ROAR—!!!"
A heaven-shaking roar echoed through the guild hall!
A gray summoning circle unfolded in the sky, and a colossal being descended with a crash.
It was a mechanical dragon over tens of meters tall, covered in heavy black metal armor—the Ultimate Level, MetalGreymon!
Its massive body filled the courtyard, crushing the ground beneath it.
Gajeel's pupils shrank. "What the hell is that thing?!"
Ace leaped lightly onto MetalGreymon's shoulder. "Gajeel, your opponent is this guy."
"A metal dragon? Perfect! I love tearing apart scrap metal!" Gajeel laughed maniacally.
He shot into the sky, his right fist transforming into a massive steel warhammer covered in rotating saw teeth.
"Iron Dragon's Club!"
The attack smashed toward MetalGreymon's head!
MetalGreymon didn't dodge.
Its mechanical left claw ignited with dark red energy and met the attack head-on.
BOOM————!!!
Fist and claw collided with a deafening crash!
A shockwave leveled the surrounding ruins. At the center, Gajeel felt an overwhelming force travel up his arm.
His steel club shattered into fragments, and he was sent flying like a meteorite, crashing into the ruins behind him.
"Cough, cough... Damn it... What strength!" Gajeel struggled to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth.
The savage light in his eyes grew stronger, tinged with gravity.
"Not bad... but don't underestimate a Dragon Slayer!" Gajeel roared.
All his magic power boiled, and the iron in the air answered his call.
"Iron Dragon's Roar!"
A destructive tornado of silver metal fragments erupted from Gajeel's mouth, ripping through the air toward Ace.
MetalGreymon raised its right arm.
The heavy armor slid open to reveal a pitch-black muzzle a meter in diameter.
"Giga Destroyer!!"
Two organic missiles shot forth with world-destroying power!
A devastating shockwave swept out like a tsunami, wiping the ruins off the map.
Gajeel poured out all his magic to resist, but the destructive beam overwhelmed him.
He screamed as he was sent tumbling across the ground, charred and smoking.
MetalGreymon stood firm, its black armor reflecting the moonlight.
"It's not over yet!" Gajeel struggled up again. Zzzzzzt—! Silver-gray magic erupted from his hands, forming two massive, saw-toothed double-headed swords.
"Iron Dragon Sword!"
Gajeel charged like a metal whirlwind, aiming for the giant beast's leg joints.
Just as the swords were about to strike, MetalGreymon suddenly burst forth with a blinding light of evolution!
"RAAAAAWR—!!!"
MetalGreymon threw its head back and roared, its body violently expanding within the light.
Ace leaped from its shoulder, landing far away.
'MetalGreymon is evolving! But into what? Machinedramon? RustTyrannomon?'
The light grew brighter, engulfing the massive body.
The sound of twisting metal and rising pressure filled the air.
Gajeel's swords struck the edge of the light and were fiercely repelled, jarring his hands until they bled.
Gajeel stopped in horror, staring at the blinding sphere.
Ace held his breath, eyes filled with anticipation.
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