The Giant's Fall and the Ignorant Seeker
Makarov couldn't believe his eyes.
The man before me, exuding an aura of misfortune and evil, was none other than Precht Gelberg, the second guild master who had led Fairy Tail to its glory and taught me that "magic is alive, it is the embodiment of love and faith!"
That mentor I once admired so much!
"Long time no see, Makarov."
Hades, also known as Precht, wore a calm smile, as if he were simply catching up with an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time.
"Why..." Makarov's body trembled with immense emotion.
"Why have you become like this? Weren't you supposed to be searching for the roots of demonic arts? Why have you become the guild master of the Dark Guild?!"
"I have indeed found it," Precht said, arms outstretched, his expression fervent.
"I have found the root of magic: Zeref! Awaken him, and a 'Great Magic World' where magic reigns supreme will arrive! That is the true world of magic I have been seeking!"
"Everything I've done is to usher in the Great Magic World. The old order is rotten; only by overturning everything and breaking free from its shackles can a true golden age of magic descend upon the world."
"What ridiculous ignorance."
Jiang Bai's tone was flippant and full of sarcasm, his words piercing the other party's self-righteous obsession.
"You spent half your life falling into darkness, killing countless people, betraying your original intentions, and attempting to create a so-called Great Magic World?"
"From beginning to end, you've been nothing but a fool living in your own delusions. You don't even understand the origins of the world or the truth about Zeref. What makes you think you can reshape the era?"
The boy's clear voice, filled with extreme mockery and contempt, only elicited a cold sneer from Precht.
Precht didn't take Jiang Bai seriously at all. In his eyes, this seemingly composed young man was nothing more than an ignorant child who didn't understand the ways of the world and only knew how to spout nonsense.
It's nothing more than a boastful display of some strange magic, nothing more than the futile rage of impotent madness.
In his view, Jiang Bai might have some talent, but he simply couldn't comprehend the abyss of demonic cultivation that he was pursuing.
Precht's gaze returned to Makarov.
"Makarov, I don't want to be your enemy. As long as you don't interfere with my awakening of Zeref, I can let you go. After all, you are the successor I personally chose."
"What about the children on the island?" Makarov asked in a hoarse voice.
"Are you going to attack them too?!"
Precht's smile gradually faded.
"For the Great Magic World I seek," his voice turned cold and ruthless.
"Any obstacle must be removed."
Even if they... are members of Fairy Tail.
That one sentence completely severed the last vestige of affection in Makarov's heart.
"Precht!!"
With a Heavenly Movement roar, Makarov's body began to grow rapidly to enormous size!
In the blink of an eye, a colossal giant appeared beneath the airship!
That's the Fairy Tail guild master, an angry giant who transformed to protect his family!
The "giant" Makarov threw a punch with terrifying force capable of leveling mountains, slamming it hard into Precht on the airship!
However, faced with this devastating attack, Precht simply raised his hand casually.
"Amaterasu - Twenty-Eight Styles!"
A complex magic circle unfolded before him, easily blocking the enormous fist!
Makarov was so shocked that he staggered backward, his face filled with disbelief.
"How is that possible...?"
"Your magic is still stuck in the past, Makarov." Precht looked down at him, his eyes filled with disappointment.
"And I, have already stepped into the abyss of demonic ways."
He gave Makarov no chance to breathe, using chain magic, demonic bullets, and all sorts of lost Ancient Magic with ease, driving the massive Makarov into a rout, leaving him utterly helpless.
"Hateful..."
Makarov was panting heavily. He knew that an insurmountable chasm had formed between him and his former mentor.
But he cannot back down!
Behind him stood all the children of the guild!
"Since that's the case..."
A resolute glint flashed in Makarov's eyes.
He began chanting one of Fairy Tail's three Super Magic, a forbidden technique representing absolute judgment!
Golden light began to gather around him!
"Oh? Do you need that?"
For the first time, a hint of interest appeared on Precht's face.
"The Fairy Law!!"
"According to the rules, Precht, I'm giving you three seconds to repent! Give up!"
However, despite Makarov's persuasion, Precht remained unmoved.
Makarov then no longer hesitated.
Punishing all enemies with malicious intent, a holy light erupts from Makarov's center!
However, just as the golden light was about to engulf the entire airship, an equally massive but malevolent and ominous dark magic surged forth from Precht's body!
"You think I'll just surrender? Little Makarov, don't be so naive! The Grimoire Law!!"
Golden holy light and pitch-black demonic light collided, eroded, and canceled each other out fiercely in the air!
Finally, with a dull thud, both extreme forms of "law" magic vanished into nothingness.
Makarov's pupils constricted sharply, and his heart trembled violently.
The ultimate technique he had poured all his strength into was easily countered and completely neutralized by his opponent.
Makarov's magic power was almost exhausted, while Precht on the other side seemed to have no power at all.
The gap between the two generations of presidents is already so vast.
Just as Makarov's movements faltered and his attack faltered, a lazy, mocking voice rang out at the opportune moment.
"Alright, alright, old man, don't push yourself if you can't do it anymore."
Jiang Bai slowly stepped out of the void, his invisible spatial power fully unleashed.
A playful smile played on his lips as his gaze fell upon the composed Precht, completely piquing the amusement of the man.
"Now it's my turn to play with you."
The battlefield has been officially handed over.
"Warm-up exercises are over."
Jiang Bai's lazy voice clearly reached Precht's ears on the airship.
He merely glanced at Jiang Bai indifferently.
In his view, Makarov's defeat was a foregone conclusion, and the young man before him was nothing more than the clown at the end of this farce.
"Ignorant brat, you have no idea the difference between us." Precht's voice was full of arrogance.
"Yeah?"
Jiang Bai smiled.
The next second, his figure vanished from the sky.
Precht's pupils contracted sharply as an unprecedented sense of crisis gripped his heart.
Before he could react, a hand gently patted his shoulder.
"Grandpa, there's a wide-open door behind you."
Jiang Bai's mocking voice rang in his ears like a ghost.
In an instant, every hair on Precht's body stood on end!
He whirled around, and the dark chains, imbued with terrifying magic, lashed out behind him wildly!
However, there was no one behind him.
Jiang Bai's figure had somehow returned to its original position, still with his hands in his pockets and a harmless demeanor.
It was as if the instantaneous teleportation that had just occurred, which would have caught even the strongest person off guard, was merely a trivial illusion.
But the lingering sensation of being touched on his shoulder was frantically reminding Precht that it wasn't an illusion!
This young man just easily broke through all my defenses and got close to me!
If he had just tried to make a move...
A bead of cold sweat slowly slid down Precht's forehead.
"You... you bastard..."
For the first time, Precht's face lost its composure and tranquility.
Space Transfer magic is rare, but he has encountered it before, though never in a way that left him unable to react.
If others treat space as a tool, then Jiang Bai is the master of space.
"Have you had enough fun?" Jiang Bai yawned, seemingly getting a little impatient.
"If that's all you're capable of, then I'm ending this boring game."
"Arrogant!"
Being so disrespected by a junior, Precht's pent-up anger finally erupted!
He held nothing back, clasped his hands together in front of his chest, and chanted an ancient and evil incantation.
"The Grimoire Law, divine punishment!"
"Come forth, Domus Flau!"