Chapter 9: Overwhelming Power
Erza shouted, "Mirajane, Cana, we can't determine a winner among ourselves like this. We have two options: fight separately and hope for the best, or team up against Dino. The Master said if we defeat him, all three of us can become S-Class mages."
"It's a long shot, but we might have a chance. Wait! Dino's attacking!"
A white sphere of light formed around Dino's right fist as he swung toward them.
The air cracked and shattered.
An invisible shockwave slammed into the ground near them, triggering a devastating explosion that sent dirt and rocks flying everywhere.
"Ahhh!" They screamed as the sheer force of the aftershock sent them tumbling backward with minor injuries.
Makarov watched and grumbled, "That brat! Erza and the others are girls. Can't he go easier on them?! He'll never get a girlfriend at this rate!"
Dino's left fist now glowed with the same white sphere as he aimed at a distant hill.
The air exploded again.
The hill disintegrated from his punch, sending massive chunks of rock raining down across the entire island like deadly fireworks. Everyone on the boat gaped in shock.
"Master! Is this really okay?" Happy whined.
"'Walking natural disaster' is the perfect description!" Levy and Lisanna clutched each other nervously.
Even Makarov was speechless. Sure, Dino was holding back, but even his restraint was absurdly destructive. Was this what he considered gentle?
"Ice Make: Ice Shield!" Gray molded the magic with both hands, creating an ice barrier that blocked the falling debris.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu's fists ignited as he smashed through the rocks hurtling toward him.
"Beast Arm: Black Bear!" Elfman's right arm transformed into a massive bear limb, swatting away the incoming stones.
"Requip: Heaven's Wheel Armor!" Erza's body became encased in steel armor with metallic wings on her back and dozens of swords floating around her.
"Circle Sword!" With someone defending behind her, Erza seized the opportunity to attack. Dozens of blades streaked toward Dino like beams of light.
Dino swung his fist to the side.
The swords shattered in midair before reaching him, dissolving into particles of magic. The shockwave continued past the broken blades and struck Erza directly.
Her armor cracked and exploded apart, revealing her body underneath. Dino's eyes widened and he nearly had a nosebleed. At fifteen years old with a figure like that… Mashima's art style was something else.
A furious voice cut through, "Where are you looking, you pervert?!"
"Darkness Stream!"
Mirajane condensed dark energy spheres in her hands and fired them at Dino. He smashed his fist backward.
The air fractured, sending an invisible shockwave at Mirajane.
All of her dark energy exploded in midair.
"Kyaaa!" The shockwave caught her, and she screamed as she plummeted from the sky.
Dino's expression shifted. "Damn, I overdid it!" The Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power was overwhelming. Even after years of training, gauging others' defenses remained difficult.
"Big sister! Beast Arm: Iron Bull!" Elfman charged Dino while he was distracted, his right arm transforming into reinforced steel as he struck.
Dino countered with a punch.
"Gah!" Elfman flew backward.
"Ice Make: Lance!" Multiple ice spears shot toward Dino.
He punched again. The air shattered.
The ice spears exploded, and the shockwave sent the fragments back even faster than they came.
"Requip: Adamantine Armor!" Erza appeared in front of Gray, donning heavy defensive armor. She crossed her arms to form a massive shield, gritting her teeth as she absorbed the attack. The ice shards and shockwave forced her backward, her feet carving trenches in the ground.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" A brilliant magic circle appeared before Natsu's mouth as he brought his fists together.
A devastating torrent of flames erupted toward Dino.
"Lightning!" Cana threw a card that transformed into smoke midair. Anyone who inhaled it would fall into deep sleep.
Both the Fire Dragon's Roar and Cana's sleeping smoke shattered easily against Dino's punch. Having witnessed his earlier attacks, Natsu and Cana dove aside just as their magic rebounded.
Cana stared at Dino with wide eyes. "Are you serious? All of us attacking together and he hasn't moved a single step. Is this really the power of Fairy Tail's strongest S-Class mage?"