"Gajeel?"
Uchiha Izuna sidestepped the attack and asked in confusion, "You still dare to attack me?"
A figure covered in hardened dragon scales appeared atop the house opposite him. It was Gajeel of the Phantom Lord Guild.
Gajeel sneered. "This time, I'm not the one dealing with you. If you know what's good for you, tell us where Lucy is right now. Otherwise, don't say I didn't warn you."
"Then I'll wait and see," Uchiha Izuna sneered, rapidly forming hand seals.
"Fire Style: Majestic Demolisher Flame!"
The condensed firestorm swept forward, completely engulfing Gajeel. Since this was their second encounter, Uchiha Izuna had already formed an assessment of his opponent's strength.
"Heh heh, what a disobedient little rat. Since that's the case, your soul can tell me instead!"
With a low chuckle, a surge of pitch-black magic emerged, forming a cloud of black mist that blocked the Majestic Demolisher Flame.
Then, the flames were shrouded and devoured by darkness until they vanished completely.
A moment later, the light beside Gajeel suddenly warped.
A man radiating a nauseating aura of death, dressed in a wizard's robe, appeared there as if he had teleported.
One of the Ten Wizard Saints, the master of the Phantom Lord Guild—Jose Porla!
"This guy..."
The instant he saw the man and sensed the terrifying aura emanating from him, Uchiha Izuna's body stiffened involuntarily. Like a lesser creature encountering a superior predator, he could barely breathe under the pressure of that immense death magic.
"Damn it, there are still four hours left!" Uchiha Izuna cursed inwardly.
At the same time, his Mangekyō Sharingan activated. A layer of azure Skeleton Ribs appeared around him, immediately blocking out the influence of the opponent's overwhelming magic.
But his expression remained grim.
He could feel how powerful this man named Jose