Gildarts Gets Serious

Celestial Spirit Mages are a rather unique type among the many mage systems.

They themselves don't have much combat power, and their battles mainly rely on the Celestial Spirit summoned by the key.

The relationship between Yuri and Griffon is similar to that between Celestial Spirit Mage and Celestial Spirit, only much closer, since they were once one.

It was after the separation that Griffon lost its magical power supply, becoming like a rootless duckweed. If it hadn't signed a contract with Yuri and received a replenishment of magical power, it might have already dissipated.

In other words, the magic it uses originates from Yuri.

Yuri's magical power will also limit Nightmare's strength to some extent, which is similar to the Celestial Spirit Mage.

But what few people know is that in high-level Celestial Spirit Magic, there is a spell called Star Dress, which can borrow the power of Celestial Spirit to help mages in battle.

What Yuri needs to do is something similar...

"Griffon!"

As Yuri finished speaking, the strange and intricate black magic patterns on his chest suddenly began to glow.

A ghostly Griffon figure appeared behind him.

The next moment, the phantom merged with Yuri, and the light on his chest instantly transformed into surging purple lightning, engulfing Yuri's entire body except for the Devil Bringer.

Although the combination of Yuri and Griffon may seem similar to that of Celestial Spirit Mage and Celestial Spirit, there is a fundamental difference between the two.

That is, Yuri is so strong that Griffon is almost useless in the battle.

Whether it's attack, defense, or strength... Griffon is almost no match for Yuri in any aspect, and in fact, they are quite far behind.

Besides... speed!

In terms of speed, Yuri simply cannot match Griffon.

The difference between them is roughly like the difference between Griffon and Yuri on other levels.

Even if the Shunpo is fast enough to leave an afterimage, it still can't match the speed of this lightning-fast bird.

So Yuri decided to combine his Shunpo) with Griffon's lightning power.

This led to the current situation...

"You... what is this?!"

Laxus stared blankly at the scene. Although the purple lightning was not as violent or aggressive as his Dragon Slayer Magic, it still gave him a sense of not being to be underestimated.

"Godspeed!"

Yuri's pupils flashed with purple lightning, and his loose silver hair stood on end. He smiled at Laxus beside him and said, "I'm much faster than before, so you'd better watch out so you don't lose me."

Laxus paused, then his body crackled with lightning again, and as if infected by the smile, he too smirked. "You'd better watch out so I don't leave you far behind."

Gildarts silently watched the two figures in the distance, their fighting spirit surging once more. "A third round, huh? Come on..."

"Zzz--"

A very faint crackling sound of electricity rang out, like a spark of electricity suddenly appearing in the darkness, flashing and disappearing in an instant.

No sooner had Gildarts finished speaking than Yuri appeared in front of him in an instant.

Strangely enough, Yuri was still standing in the same spot next to Laxus in the distance.

"Where are you looking, uncle?"

Gildarts only reacted when Yuri's voice rang in his ear and a lightning-fast chop shot straight at his face.

"So fast! Was that just an afterimage?!" Gildarts was shocked. This speed was much faster than before.

Gildarts dodged in time, raising his hand to grab Yuri's left arm. But his hand passed right through the arm, leaving him with nothing.

Gildarts reacted instantly upon sensing something was wrong, turning around to meet Yuri's Devil Bringer with a punch.

However... the attack still didn't seem to land, passing through without any resistance.

Suddenly, a right leg crackling with purple lightning lashed out at Gildarts from the side.

Before he could even gather his magic, he instinctively raised his hands to block, and was slid backward by the blow.

A tingling, burning sensation spread through both arms, making Gildarts feel slightly uncomfortable.

Before he could even catch his breath, Yuri's figure reappeared before him, half-bowed and charging, still the same Devil Bringer, still radiating a faint white light.

Not good!

Gildarts tried to stop him, but the numbness in his hands made his movements momentarily sluggish.

Even if it's only for a brief moment, it's more than enough for Yuri in his current state.

One more shot...

Just as Yuri was about to throw his punch, a white light suddenly flashed on the ground beneath their feet, and a layer of the ground abruptly shattered.

Yuri lost his footing and momentarily lost his balance, but Gildarts, who had been planning this all along, threw a punch straight at Yuri's face.

A burst of brilliant golden lightning suddenly appeared as Laxus kicked Gildarts in the arm.

The fist's trajectory suddenly shifted, Yuri slightly turned to avoid it.

With a blue magic circle beneath his feet providing support, the Devil Bringer, radiating white light, slammed out and struck Gildarts squarely in the chin.

"Boom!!"

An invisible shock surged into the sky, shattering the blanket of water that was trying to fall back down.

This time, with no support to allow Gildarts to break free and absorb the force, he was immediately thrown upwards by the immense power.

Yuri and Laxus appeared in mid-air simultaneously, one gripping a weapon crackling with endless lightning, the other spinning and slashing down with a terrifying lightning axe.

Both players simultaneously unleashed a powerful dunk on Gildarts' exposed abdomen.

Gildarts' body crashed down at incredible speed, shattering the ground below and kicking up a cloud of dust.

But that wasn't all. Laxus gathered magical power in his mouth, and surging lightning continuously converged within it.

Yuri raised his Devil Bringer high, and as the magic power he unleashed grew, it became the same size as the one that had previously smashed Echidna into a specimen.

The Thunder Dragon's Breath and the Devil's iron fist were simultaneously unleashed downwards.

"Boom--!"

For a moment, the entire cave was shaking, as if it were about to collapse at any moment.

"Did it work...?" Laxus asked, landing and panting heavily.

"It shouldn't be that easy." Yuri wasn't much better off.

Although the Godspeed pace of development was short, the burden it brought was considerable.

As the smoke and dust gradually dissipated, Gildarts's figure was revealed.

His body was covered in dust and small wounds, his chin was noticeably red and swollen, and his already tattered cloak had become even more ragged.

Clearly, even a monster like Gildarts can get hurt.

However, this level of injury not only failed to defeat the monster, but also "enraged" it.

"Actually, by now, you should have already passed the assessment based on your abilities."

Gildarts smiled, his face showing admiration and satisfaction.

"However, I believe you are still lacking something essential in your ascent to the pinnacle of the demonic path."

He immediately changed the subject, his smile gradually disappearing, and his expression instantly becoming extremely serious:

"Therefore, from now on, I will show you no mercy."

As soon as he finished speaking, an immense and suffocating magical power suddenly erupted from Gildarts' body, pressing down on the two of them.