Cooperation in a Hard Battle

"!!!"

Ifrit suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly used Wind Blast to fly into the sky.

But this time, he failed to take off!

Looking down, he saw that the collapsed buildings had formed an area of shadow. Dark magic quietly extended from within and bound his legs.

'Rumble.'

A bolt of lightning fell, striking the ground just past Ifrit's nose. Its powerful golden magic dispelled the dark magic.

'Riiip.'

Laxus tore up the photograph and stepped forward.

'Crackle, crackle, crackle!'

Violent golden lightning flashed all over his body. His magic appeared to be the same type as Natsu's.

Of course it was. He was a Dragon Slayer Mage too.

Jose's expression turned grave.

Laxus had tremendous offensive power, but lacked combat technique. With his abundant battle experience, Jose could defeat him.

Ifrit's magic was sly and bizarre; one could easily fall for it if careless. But his attack patterns were simple, relying almost entirely on that gun.

As for the blade that had cut off Pudding's left hand—would he dare approach Jose while Jose's magic power was at full force?

If they fought separately—

Jose was confident he could crush them until the very end.

But if these two worked together, things would become troublesome!

"Listen to me," Laxus said.

"Okay." Ifrit nodded. "Laxus, I'll deceive him with my magic. Get him!"

"..."

Laxus hesitated for a moment. Looking at Jose, who stood frozen in place, he ultimately unleashed his magic power, transformed into a bolt of lightning, and charged forward.

Ifrit activated his magic at full power, nearly making Jose fight within his mind while his body remained motionless in reality.

However, Laxus's violent magic power charged straight at Jose without any attempt to conceal itself, allowing him to sense it and "wake up."

When Jose realized he had been deceived and broke through one layer of magical influence, he still could not see Laxus—but he sensed wild lightning magic power already right in his face.

"Lightning Dragon's—Fist!"

"Dark Spiral!"

'Boom!'

The two massive forces of magic collided, sending both men flying backward.

Ifrit had already anticipated it and fired a Void Flash that had charged for three seconds.

'Buzz.'

The Void Flash engulfed Jose, but in the next second, darkness dissolved it.

Ifrit hurriedly dodged.

'Boom, boom, boom!'

As he evaded, the place where he had been standing was blasted into ruins by a barrage of dark magic.

Laxus quickly steadied himself and charged at Jose again.

The same trick again—

Ifrit once more used his magic to influence Jose's judgment.

This time, they were too close.

Jose reacted, but his speed could not keep up.

"Lightning Dragon's—Roar!"

The point-blank Lightning Dragon's Roar struck Jose dead on!

'Whoosh.'

A dark figure trailing a long plume of smoke plummeted rapidly from the sky.

It was Jose.

His expensive mage's robe had been shredded, his hat was gone, smoke rose from his entire body, and golden lightning still crackled over him.

He was in an utterly sorry state, but before he could adjust himself, another blast from Ifrit precisely struck in front of him, as if it had predicted his movement.

'Rumble!'

A direct hit!

Laxus pressed the advantage and charged after him again!

"You brats, don't get too full of yourselves!" Jose roared, unleashing a chained barrage of dark magic at both Ifrit and Laxus.

The wide-ranging attacks spread outward, forcing Ifrit back.

The smaller yet more powerful attacks were directed at Laxus with full force.

'Boom!'

As Ifrit retreated and avoided the dark magic bombardment, Laxus was also sent flying by Jose.

'Whoosh.'

In an instant, Jose appeared before Laxus.

Not good!

Laxus's heart jolted!

Jose had mastered teleportation magic. With his experience, he could not lock onto Ifrit, who changed locations after every shot—but he could lock onto Laxus's constantly erupting magic power.

Ifrit!

Laxus abruptly looked toward Ifrit and instantly reined in all of his magic power!

"Dark Spiral!"

Jose unleashed dark magic, which grazed past Laxus's shoulder.

Laxus allowed gravity to pull him down as he fell.

"Missed?" Jose frowned. "In that instant, I lost my magical lock. For a proud brat like the lightning kid to trust that little liar so completely..."

That was right.

Since magical fluctuations could be locked onto—

In that instant, Laxus trusted that Ifrit would save him, so he simply withdrew all of his magic power.

Ifrit did not disappoint him. He manipulated his magic and deceived Jose, allowing Laxus to escape the pursuit.

There was no need for words.

With just that one exchange, the two understood the key to working together.

"So you intend to use this against me?" Unable to sense Laxus's magic power, Jose smiled. "What two clever little brats."

"However, you have one fatal weakness to overcome."

"That is—"

"You're not strong enough!"

'Boom—'

Jose erupted with magic power at full force.

The oppressive force of magic power at the level of one of the Ten Wizard Saints intimidated everyone present!

Throughout Phantom Lord's headquarters, everyone involuntarily felt fear rise within them!

Black mist formed in Jose's hands, swiftly engulfing the entire guild building.

It was so dark that nothing could be seen!

Dark magic power swirled around Jose.

Laxus clenched his fists, forcibly suppressing the agitation of his magic power.

Trust Ifrit!

Though he hated that guy.

Still—

"To the left, thirty steps."

Laxus began moving according to the instruction at his ear.

"Did you move?" Yet Jose instantly appeared before Laxus!

'Rumble!'

Laxus had no choice but to unleash his magic power, dispersing the black mist around him as he threw out a hurried punch.

But Jose had ambushed him and held every advantage. Moreover, he was vastly experienced, concealing a second attack within the first.

Laxus broke through the first attack, only to be struck head-on by the second!

'Boom!'

Laxus was sent flying backward.

Ifrit hurriedly cast his magic.

However, although the effect of his deception magic was unaffected by the opponent's strength, it was weakened when the opponent was in an abnormal state.

For example, shifts in a magnetic field could disrupt natural magic power. Or, like Jose, creating black mist with magic that nearly became a domain—causing all externally cast magic to suffer immense interference, including Ifrit's Deception Magic.

"Found you." Jose smiled at Laxus.

Jose had temporarily broken free of the Deception Magic. He fixed his eyes on Laxus and relentlessly pursued him.

Yet Ifrit did not dare move at all, because the moment he moved, Jose would immediately turn and attack him!

"Clever brat, you understood so quickly." Jose said, "Within the black mist, I can directly sense any moving object. Although this consumes a great deal of magic power, I have to admit it, little liar—you are worth it."

"Damn it!" Laxus erupted with terrifying magic power, manifesting countless bolts of lightning that temporarily shattered Jose's black mist magic.

But Jose's black mist magic would soon return.

Still, that brief instant was enough.

Ifrit's magic influenced Jose once more, deceiving him into chasing in the wrong direction and allowing Laxus to escape danger.

"Ifrit." Laxus spoke. "I've never lost to an enemy. Neither have you."

"Of course we won't lose," Ifrit replied.

"Three minutes." Laxus said abruptly.

"Oh?" Ifrit was slightly surprised. The young master had lowered his head, huh.

It seemed Jose was putting Laxus under immense pressure.

"The time that truly decides a battle's outcome is not even one minute."

Ifrit said.