X771

The incident involving the Magic Development Bureau's exposure was published in the Magic Weekly a week after Allen and the others returned. Yajima had contacted Makarov beforehand as well. Since Brian was extremely cunning and had kept his true strength hidden all along, the team Yajima brought to capture him suffered heavy losses.

After learning from Yajima that Brian had fled to the Northern Continent, Allen and Laxus exchanged a glance, a flicker of excitement flashing in their eyes. Looks like they can wipe those people out together on the Northern Continent!

Makarov noticed their expressions too. He stepped forward and punched them both on the head. As they rubbed the backs of their heads, he said irritably, "You're still no match for Brian. Yajima told me that Brian has a hidden personality. Once that personality emerges, it has the combat power of a Ten Saint. Allen, you still haven't reached S-Class in your normal state. After receiving LordKnightmon, you can barely touch the level of a Ten Saint, but you can't maintain it for long. So, for the time being, you can be considered to have S-Class combat power. As for Laxus, you have A-Class combat power in your normal state, but even your burst only reaches S-Class. So the two of you would just be throwing your lives away by going to the Northern Continent now. The Dark Magic Group and those Dark Guilds will definitely have top-tier combatants. Given the current situation, you'll have to wait. We need to make a long-term plan."

Seeing that the two still looked somewhat dissatisfied, Makarov softened his tone. "The Council has already informed the countries on the Northern Continent about the Dark Magic Group, so someone will naturally take care of this matter. Saving the world isn't your job yet. Keep growing for now!"

No matter how unwilling they were, Allen and Laxus had no choice. Makarov was right: neither of them had yet grown into their Perfect Form. All they could say was that their future looked promising.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As one deafening boom after another rang out, a succession of gorgeous, multicolored fireworks exploded over Magnolia's night sky. Like blooming flowers competing for beauty, they instantly transformed the sky above the entire city into a dreamlike spectacle.

It was the final day of X770. People flooded into the streets, preparing to welcome the arrival of the new year together.

Allen brought a group of friends to an open area in high spirits. They were going to set off fireworks together and wait for the first day of the new year. The three little ones had never seen such a magnificent sight before. When the first firework shot into the sky, dragging a long blazing tail behind it, they all shuddered in fright, terror appearing on their faces. However, when they watched the dazzling fireworks bloom in the night sky like scattered heavenly flowers, all their fear vanished. In its place was uncontrollable excitement and exhilaration. The three little ones clapped their hands nonstop, shouting happily as well.

"Happy New Year, everyone! May you all stay healthy, may everything go your way, and may all your dreams come true in the new year!" When the clock struck twelve, Allen happily offered the sincerest blessings to the people beside him. Ultear, standing nearby, heard him and cheerfully replied, "Allen, I sincerely wish you smooth sailing and success in everything you do in the new year, too~" As soon as she finished speaking, Allen burst out laughing. He strode forward and gently swept Ultear up into his arms. Without hesitation, he planted a loud kiss on her now slightly plump and adorable cheek. Ultear was stunned for a moment, but she quickly reacted and excitedly kissed Allen on the cheek in return. The two then smiled at each other as their happy laughter echoed through the night sky.

Nearby, Sorano tugged on Laxus's pants and pointed at Allen. "Hey, Laxus, Sorano wants that too!"

Yukino panicked when she heard this. She tugged on Laxus's pants as well and said, "Yukino wants it too!"

Laxus gave a helpless, bitter smile. He picked up both sisters and kissed each of them on the cheek. The two sisters simultaneously kissed him several times on the face. Laxus felt utterly weary. He had only wanted to train, but Allen had dragged him out to celebrate the new year. Laxus was already ten years old and had long since stopped being a four-year-old child. He wasn't looking forward to celebrating the new year at all!

After the dazzling fireworks bloomed one final burst of brilliance in the sky before slowly fading away, Allen and Laxus brought the three little ones back to the still-lively guild.

The three little ones had gradually grown accustomed to falling asleep on their own. This place gave them warmth and care, while the guild's companions were their closest family. The traces of unease that had once occasionally appeared on their faces had also vanished through everyone's tireless efforts over this period. Now, they had completely immersed themselves in the happy, loving atmosphere of Fairy Tail's big family. Every day was filled with joy, carefree and worry-free.

Moreover, after Polyushika had helped regulate the three little ones' health, their malnutrition caused by their past experiences had improved greatly. However, after learning about all the suffering the three children had endured, every guild member felt heartbroken. They would constantly bring out all kinds of delicious, high-calorie food to feed them. Day after day, the three little ones' figures unknowingly grew rounder and rounder.

The feast in the guild hall had yet to end. After greeting everyone, Allen and Laxus sent the three little ones to their room. Before closing the door, Allen said to them, "Good night~ See you tomorrow."

The three little ones were already unbearably sleepy. After hearing Allen, they answered hazily, "Good night~~"

For Laxus, the first day of the new year was destined to begin with a one-on-one fight against his big brother!

Laxus stared fixedly at Allen in the distance. His hands were clenched tightly, veins bulging as lightning leaped across them like agile silver snakes, radiating an unnerving magical power.

Allen wore a smile and watched Laxus's serious expression with ease. He smiled and said, "Come on. Let me see how much you've improved during this time!"

The moment Allen finished speaking, Laxus launched his attack without hesitation.

He drew a deep breath and concentrated a massive amount of magic power in his mouth. As the power gathered, dazzling lightning began to shine in his throat. Then he suddenly opened his mouth and roared, "Roar of the Thunder Dragon!" In an instant, an immensely thick beam crackling with intense lightning shot toward Allen at astonishing speed, resembling a ferocious thunder dragon.

Faced with this menacing attack, Allen chose neither to dodge nor retreat. Instead, he swiftly raised his left hand and held it before him. Just as the Roar of the Thunder Dragon was about to strike his body, he received Aegis.

With a deafening boom, the Roar of the Thunder Dragon slammed into Aegis's surface, bursting into countless dazzling sparks. However, the impact produced by the attack did not force Allen back even half a step.

Laxus had long known that the Roar of the Thunder Dragon could not cause Allen any substantial harm. What surprised him was that when the attack struck Aegis this time, it did not trigger the violent explosion that usually created smoke to cover his follow-up attack.

However, Laxus did not retreat because of the unexpected turn of events. He steadily raised both hands before his chest, palms facing each other, and slowly brought them together. As the distance between his hands decreased, a high-quality magical power began gathering and condensing between them. The magic seemed almost tangible, glowing brilliantly, while countless bolts of lightning danced across Laxus's body.

Suddenly, Laxus shouted, "Raijin's Halberd!" At his cry, the highly compressed lightning magic, filled with terrifying energy, shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. The attack's power was astonishing. Wherever it passed, the air itself was torn apart, producing a sharp, ear-piercing howl.

While the powerful attack was still flying through the air, Laxus abruptly pushed off the ground. The muscles in his thighs instantly erupted with tremendous force, and he used that power to charge toward Allen at lightning speed.

With another deafening boom, Raijin's Halberd slammed into the surface of Aegis in Allen's hand. A blinding light erupted in an instant, and a powerful shockwave swept outward from the point of impact. The surrounding ground was blasted into a deep crater, and smoke and dust filled the air.

Laxus's assault did not end there. Almost at the same moment, he launched another attack—"Thunder Dragon's Collapsing Fist!" He leaped high into the air, clenched his right fist, and sent lightning coiling around his bulging arm. Carrying the force to destroy heaven and earth, his fist came crashing down toward Allen in the smoke.

Faced with such a fierce attack, Allen merely smiled from within the smoke. Through the hazy veil, he calmly watched Laxus break through layer after layer of smoke and rush toward him. Just as Laxus's fist was about to strike, Allen lightly exerted force with his feet and flickered aside like a ghost, effortlessly avoiding Laxus's devastating Collapsing Fist.

At the same time, Allen launched his counterattack and said, "Didn't I tell you before? When you don't know what's going on, don't leap into the air to attack in front of your enemy. Especially when you can't fly—recklessly jumping into the sky will only turn you into a sitting duck!"

After saying this, while Laxus was still unsteady upon landing, Allen drove his right fist straight toward Laxus's abdomen.