Laxus's Jealousy

Laxus's gaze swept over the area downstairs like that of a lion surveying its territory.

Finally, the camera focused precisely on the figure who remained calm throughout, as if everything was irrelevant to him, leaning against the bar drinking juice.

Jiang Bai.

Seeing Jiang Bai's leisurely demeanor, Laxus's mockery deepened, and he didn't even bother to look at Makarov again.

"Furthermore, sir, you should continue lecturing Jiang Bai."

His voice rang out again, this time aimed directly at the guild's undisputed strongest member.

"Despite possessing such immense strength and bearing the title of 'Strongest in Fairy Tail,' he's lazy and idle all day long, either dating women or hanging out with this bunch of good-for-nothings."

He pointed down at the guild members downstairs who dared not speak out in anger, his sneer widening to its maximum.

"And these people in the guild, they're all pitifully weak, like lambs crying for food. They don't deserve to be in Fairy Tail at all!"

"Fairy Tail should be the strongest guild, not this childish kindergarten!"

These words were more vicious and hurtful than any of the previous ones.

"What did you say?!"

Natsu's anger was reignited. He leaped out of the pit, his fists bursting with flames, and tried to charge forward again.

"Natsu! Calm down!"

Gray grabbed him, and although Gray himself was trembling with anger, he was much more rational than Natsu.

He knew very well that even if they all attacked together, they might not be able to withstand a single bolt of lightning from Laxus.

"But that guy..."

Natsu roared in frustration.

However, faced with these accusations and insults that nearly blew the roof off, Jiang Bai, at the center of the storm, didn't even lift an eyelid.

He even had the leisure to finish the last sip of juice in his glass, and then gave Mira, who was also looking unwell behind the bar, a reassuring smile.

It was as if Laxus's words weren't directed at him at all, but at some unrelated passerby.

Jiang Bai's calm and unyielding demeanor completely enraged Laxus.

He felt like he had punched cotton, all his strength completely dissipated.

A flame called "jealousy" burned fiercely in his chest.

Why should I?!

Why does this guy always act so nonchalant?!

Why is it that he can so easily obtain the "strongest" title he has always dreamed of!

Why does he deserve everyone's love and support?

Laxus's gaze instantly sharpened, as if he could pierce through Jiang Bai.

In his eyes, the entire guild hall had vanished, leaving only the figure downstairs that he both envied and hated.

"Jiang Bai!"

His voice carried a complex mix of disappointment and pain that even he himself was unaware of.

"I once thought we were friends, the only kindred spirits who could understand each other."

"I thought we were all the same, all yearning for absolute power, all wanting to become the strongest standing at the pinnacle of the world!"

"I never imagined... you would stoop so low as to associate with these weak lambs! You've truly disappointed me!"

These words instantly silenced the previously noisy guild.

Everyone was stunned.

Friends? Kindred spirits?

Laxus and Jiang Bai, were they once friends?

How is that possible?

One was arrogant and domineering, viewing his companions as a burden.

Although lazy, he always silently protects everyone.

How could two people with such contrasting personalities and beliefs possibly be friends?

Just as everyone was in shock, Jiang Bai, who had been silent all along, finally reacted.

He slowly turned around, raised his head, and looked at Laxus on the second floor, who was already somewhat exasperated.

His face showed no anger, no disappointment, not even a ripple of emotion.

Yes, but only with a kind of pity-like indifference.

"Laxus,"

Jiang Bai finally spoke; his voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

Do you really believe that only power can prove everything?

Do you really think that abandoning your companions and family, standing alone on the mountaintop, is what you consider to be the 'strongest'?

Jiang Bai shook his head, a faint, slightly mocking smile playing on his lips.

That's not strength, that's weakness.

"Because your heart is too fragile, you need to use absolute power to disguise yourself, and you need to belittle others to gain a pathetic sense of superiority."

"You have no idea what true strength is."

Jiang Bai's words were like an incredibly sharp scalpel, precisely and mercilessly dissecting Laxus's hard shell built with arrogance and power.

It exposed his deepest vulnerabilities and anxieties to the harsh light of day!

"You... you're talking nonsense!"

Laxus, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly flew into a rage.

Golden lightning flashed wildly across his body, and a terrifying magical pressure swept down from the second floor like a tsunami!

"Shut up! You don't understand anything at all!"

The air in the entire guild hall seemed to freeze under this magic.

Although this magic was mainly targeted at Jiang Bai, even the residual power that was dispersed was enough to make weaker mages feel suffocated.

"Laxus!"

Just then, a Roar filled with boundless rage exploded like thunder!

Makarov's body instantly grew to gigantic size!

His mountain-like figure stood in front of everyone, blocking out the terrifying pressure!

"Apologize to everyone in the guild!"

Makarov's enormous face was filled with unprecedented anger and majesty, and his voice echoed throughout the guild.

"Everyone in the guild is family! Family who can rely on and support each other no matter what! Not a tool for you to distinguish between strong and weak or to divide ranks!"

However, faced with his grandfather's thunderous rage, Laxus's fury gradually subsided.

Instead, there was an almost icy indifference.

He didn't even glance at Makarov again, as if that towering giant was merely an insignificant background figure.

His gaze was fixed intently on Jiang Bai.

Ignoring what Makarov said, he simply turned his head and, in a tone filled with determination and fighting spirit, said, word by word:

"Just you wait, Jiang Bai!"

"Your false strength is utterly pathetic!"

"I will personally seize the title of 'strongest' one day!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Amidst a burst of arrogant and unrestrained laughter, Laxus's figure transformed into a blinding golden lightning bolt, vanishing instantly from the second floor with a "sizzle".

That arrogant laughter still echoed throughout the guild hall, like a demonic sound.

Only after the laughter completely disappeared did the oppressive, suffocating atmosphere slowly dissipate.

The entire guild fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone remained silent, their faces bearing a complex expression of relief, as if they had just survived a catastrophe.

Anger, resentment, humiliation, and... a profound sense of powerlessness.

"Damn it! That bastard!"

Natsu slammed his fist into the pillar next to him, making a dull thud.

"Laxus..."

Gray's face was so dark it looked like it was about to drip water.

"Is he... Laxus...?"

Lucy leaned against the bar, feeling her legs still slightly weak.

Today, she finally witnessed firsthand that even under the aura of Fairy Tail as the "strongest guild," there is a deep and irreconcilable rift.

Just then, Jiang Bai slowly walked to Lucy's side.

He picked up a clean glass from the bar, poured himself some water, and drank it all in one gulp.

His movements were unhurried, as if the dramatic confrontation just moments before was nothing more than an insignificant farce.

Don't worry about it.

Jiang Bai looked at Lucy, who was still shaken, and said calmly,

"He's just a teenager who hasn't finished puberty, he's got some mental issues, but he'll be fine in a while."

If anyone else had dared to say that, Jiang Bai would have already taken action.

But Jiang Bai knew that Laxus was just unable to recognize his own heart; deep down, he actually loved Fairy Tail and his guildmates.

Over the years, he's beaten and thrashed him, but his 'condition' has only worsened. So Jiang Bai has become too lazy to do anything, as long as Laxus doesn't target any guild members.

"Puff--"

Lucy almost spat out her water.

... a chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) teenager?

Looking at Jiang Bai's serious expression, and recalling Laxus's terrifying appearance just now, a feeling of absurdity welled up within her.

To describe such a monster so casually as a "chuunibyou (delusional teenager)"—I'm afraid only Jiang Bai in the entire guild could do that.

Lucy looked at Jiang Bai, the fear and unease she felt because of Laxus were unconsciously soothed.

Yeah, what's there to be afraid of?

No matter how powerful or terrifying Laxus.

Even in Fairy Tail, Jiang Bai is still there.

This man is the true pillar of the guild.