Master Precht?

However, Lucy's verbal attack, filled with the iron fist of justice and the flames of anger, came to an abrupt end before it could continue.

Because the two culprits in front of her, Natsu and Happy, vanished into thin air after a barely perceptible spatial fluctuation.

Another location on Tenrou Island.

Zancrow, the God-Slaying Mage who had been pinned to the spot by Jiang Bai, finally regained control of his body and it was back in his own hands.

The terrifying force that had imprisoned his soul and body vanished.

But he still dared not move.

The feeling of powerlessness he had just experienced, which had almost brought his thoughts to a standstill, made him understand for the first time what "God" meant.

He cautiously stretched his stiff neck, looking at the person and cat that had suddenly appeared before him, his eyes filled with vigilance and wariness.

"Did you do it?" Zancrow's voice, for the first time, carried a hint of uncertainty.

"Did you tie me to this place and play tricks on me?"

"Ha?"

Natsu picked at his ear and looked at him like he was an idiot.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Anyone with a brain knows Jiang Bai did this kind of boring and perverted thing."

"It hurts!"

Natsu had just finished speaking ill of Jiang Bai when he received a sharp knock on the head.

Zancrow's pupils contracted sharply upon hearing Natsu's words.

Jiang Bai...

That man... is he really that powerful?

Even from such a great distance, they could render themselves completely powerless to resist.

At the same time, he understood the man's intention in doing so.

"Is that so..." A self-deprecating yet sinister smile appeared on Zancrow's face.

"So this is... an absolute difference... It seems that guy named Jiang Bai is using me as a whetstone for you."

"You're surprisingly knowledgeable." Natsu grinned, cracking his knuckles as he did so.

Zancrow was so exasperated by Natsu's matter-of-fact attitude that he laughed out loud.

Yes, he admitted that there was a world of difference between him and that monster named Jiang Bai.

However, this does not mean that just any Tom, Dick, or Harry deserves his attention!

"You really dare to say that, kid!"

Zancrow's arrogant nature once again prevailed, and the black divine fire surrounding him suddenly surged several feet higher!

"Let me use this god-slaying flame to burn you and your arrogance to ashes!"

"The Fire God's--"

"The Fire Dragon-- "

The next second, the collision of flames exploded with a deafening roar in the dense forest!

On the other side...

Lucy stared blankly at the spot where Natsu and Happy had suddenly disappeared for a full two seconds.

Then she understood.

It's Jiang Bai again!

"Hey--! Jiang Bai!!"

Lucy could no longer hold back and let out a grief-stricken roar at the sky.

"Have you forgotten about me?! What kind of person are you to leave me here all alone?!"

The next second, the familiar feeling of weightlessness came over me.

When Lucy stepped back onto solid ground, she found herself in another place.

Levy stood anxiously beside a figure covered in blood and unconscious.

It's Gajeel.

"Huh? Levy?" Lucy saw Levy and ran over to her.

"How is Gajeel? Where are Jiang Bai and the others?"

"Lucy!" Levy saw her, it was as if she had found her pillar of support.

"Gajeel is badly injured, but not in mortal danger. Jiang Bai just left with the guild master, saying they went to find Hades, the guild master of 'Grimoire Heart'."

"Soga!"

Lucy nodded, finally understanding the situation.

Her gaze fell on a tall man not far away, who was leaning against a big tree, leisurely drinking his wine.

"Then... why didn't Mr. Gildarts go with us?" Lucy asked, puzzled.

Gildarts took a swig of his drink, let out a burp, and lazily replied, "That brat Jiang Bai told me to stay here and look after you bunch of kids."

"And what's with all this talk? It's not my turn to make a move yet. Tell me to wait a bit, and he'll teleport me to some 'interesting' place."

At the same time.

Directly below the "Grimoire Heart" guild's airship.

Jiang Bai and Makarov appeared out of thin air.

Makarov looked up at the black airship overhead, which resembled a ferocious behemoth, his expression extremely grave.

"You brat, you just said you were going to take me to see someone, could it be... the guild master of this Dark Guild?"

"That's right." Jiang Bai nodded, a playful smile on his face.

"And, sir, I suppose you should know that guy named Hades."

"Oh?" Makarov raised an eyebrow.

"Then I'll have to take a good look and see just who this person is."

"Then watch closely."

Jiang Bai extended his right index finger, pointed it casually at the airship above, and then pointed it forward.

"Cursed Technique Reversal - 'Her'"

A red orb of light, seemingly capable of tearing space apart and imbued with terrifying repulsive power, shot silently toward the hull of the airship at a speed beyond the limits of visual perception!

If this attack hits, it would be enough to pierce and tear this huge airship in half instantly!

However, just a second before the red orb of light was about to touch the bottom of the airship.

A figure appeared in front of the sphere of light like a ghost.

He simply stretched out an old hand, and instantly constructed a thirty-two-layered defensive magic array.

They easily and steadily blocked the terrifying energy that was enough to destroy a small town.

The red light faded.

The person's true appearance was revealed.

When Makarov saw the face clearly, his body jolted violently!

His cloudy old eyes widened in an instant!

His face was filled with utter shock and disbelief, a shock that defied description!

"Precht... President?!"

Makarov's voice trembled violently with extreme shock, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth.

"How is that possible?!"

"How... could it be you?!"