Thunder Palace

"Laxus, what exactly are you trying to do?! You're dragging innocent townspeople into this!" Makarov threw back his head and roared in fury. Laxus had crossed his bottom line again and again, and now he was even involving innocent citizens. How was that any different from the Dark Guilds?

"Urgh!" Clutching his chest in anger, Makarov collapsed.

"Grandpa!"

"Master!"

"This is bad, heart medicine!" Mira realized what was happening and hurried upstairs to get it.

"How could this happen... at a time like this..."

"Quick, go get Granny Porlyusica!"

Mira rushed back.

"Give this medicine to the Master, quickly!"

After taking the medicine, Makarov's condition eased a little.

"Grandpa, hang in there. Granny Porlyusica will be here soon."

"Laxus!!! I'll never forgive you!"

With that, Erza ran out of the guild with Lucy and Juvia. They saw countless magic crystal spheres appearing in the sky.

"What are those?!"

Erza explained, "Thunder Palace is an immensely destructive spell made up of three hundred lightning-element magic spheres. Every magic crystal sphere contains tremendous magic power. Once the spell is unleashed, all of Magnolia Town will become a sea of lightning! Laxus has really gone too far this time."

"What?! A sea of lightning?" Lucy exclaimed.

"Requip: Sniper Rifle. Watch me smash those pieces of glass!" Bisca aimed at the magic crystals and launched an attack.

"Wait! Don't!" Erza tried to stop her, but it was already too late. The sniper rifle had struck a magic crystal.

"Bang!" "Great, I hit it."

"Not bad, Bisca!"

"This is nothing at all—Aaaahhh!" A sudden bolt of lightning struck Bisca, electrocuting her and knocking her unconscious.

"Bisca!"

"Bisca! Hang in there, Bisca!"

"What happened?!"

"It's my fault. I didn't explain it in time. This is Life-Link Magic!"

Lucy asked in confusion, "Life... Link Magic?"

"It means that if someone destroys one of the magic crystals above, the attacker will suffer a counterattack from that magic crystal."

"Then what are we supposed to do?!"

Just then, Juvia said, "Everyone, look up there. It's Ye!"

Laxus stared at the distant figure, gritting his teeth. "You again. You ruin everything every single time!" Then he turned and returned to the church.

"Master, Master, look! Ye destroyed all the magic crystals of Thunder Palace outside!"

Makarov struggled to his feet and looked at the destroyed Thunder Palace. A faint smile touched his pained lips before he fainted again.

"Laxus, you've gone too far this time."

"I was wondering who it was. Isn't this Mystogan? Are you here to stop me too?"

In an instant, both of them unleashed magic and attacked each other.

A massive explosion erupted between them.

"Skyscraper!"

Before Laxus's eyes, he was sent flying into the air, watching as the entire cathedral was destroyed.

"What?! It's all been destroyed?"

Turning around, Laxus saw the phantom of a demon charging toward him.

"Damn it, what kind of magic is this?"

"When he came back to his senses, everything had returned to normal."

"An illusion?"

"You realized it too late, Laxus!"

"Fivefold Magic Circle: Mikagura."

"Sleep, Laxus."

"Who realized it too late?"

A magic circle appeared beneath Mystogan's feet.

"This is bad!"

Mystogan immediately dispelled his magic and retreated as lightning struck straight down.

Mystogan worked his magic in midair, trying to restrain Laxus. Laxus turned into lightning and flashed aside, firing lightning from his hand at Mystogan. Mystogan used magic to block it, and both landed safely on the ground.

At that moment, the guild doors burst open, and Erza and Natsu rushed inside.

"Laxus!"

Taking advantage of Mystogan's distraction, Laxus fired a bolt of lightning that shattered Mystogan's mask, revealing a face identical to Jellal's.

Erza froze when she saw it. "Jellal..."

"I'll leave the rest to you. I'm leaving first." With a turn, Mystogan vanished from where he stood.

Taking advantage of Erza's daze, Laxus struck her with a bolt of lightning.

"Aaaahhh!"

"Don't make that face. It doesn't suit you."

"Bastard."

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"

Natsu's punch did not hit Laxus at all. Instead, Laxus sent him flying with one punch, then struck Natsu in the abdomen while he was in the air, followed with a knee blow. Another bolt of lightning directly paralyzed Natsu.

Erza also equipped her Black Wing Armor and slashed at Laxus. Laxus caught Erza's sword and released lightning through it into her. Erza requipped into Thunder Emperor Armor and broke free. Thunder Emperor Spear gathered lightning and shot toward Laxus. Laxus raised his hand to block it, then instantly fired lightning at Erza. Erza spread a barrier to block it.

"Fire Dragon's Hook Claw!"

Laxus dodged Natsu's Hook Claw.

"Erza, leave this to me."

"Can I trust you, Natsu?"

"Leave it to me."

With that, Erza ran out to find Mystogan and ask him the truth.

Catching Natsu off guard, Laxus grabbed his hand and punched him. Natsu reacted and grabbed Laxus's hand as well, and the two started brawling at close range.

Suddenly, Laxus gave a hard pull, and Natsu fell to the ground before he could react.

"Die!"

Lightning gathered beneath Laxus's foot as he stomped directly on Natsu's head. The ground shattered, and he casually flung Natsu away.

"Dragon's Roar!"

"Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!"

Laxus released lightning, and the two spells exploded against each other.

Dense lightning crackled around Laxus, surging toward Natsu. Natsu kept dodging, but it was useless. He was struck by lightning again and lay paralyzed on the ground.

"Resound through the heavens, thunderous roar that summons lightning. Fall from the sky and turn them to ash."

"Thunder Pressure Raging Tide!"

Damn it, my body won't move.

A violent sphere of lightning crashed down.

As the smoke cleared, Gajeel was seen holding Natsu, having dodged the attack.

"You hurt your comrades and still look so happy. There's seriously something wrong with you."

"Gajeel."

"Another prey?"

"Let's go."

Natsu and Gajeel charged forward together and engaged Laxus in a fierce close-quarters battle. Seizing an opening, Laxus blasted Natsu away with lightning. As Natsu flew back, Gajeel caught him.

"Use your breath attack."

"Dragon's Roar, Iron Dragon Staff!"

The flame-wreathed Iron Dragon Staff struck toward Laxus, but Laxus leaped aside and dodged it.

"Iron Dragon Sword!"

Gajeel took the chance to attack Laxus in the air again. Laxus dodged in midair, firing numerous lightning spheres from his hands at Gajeel and sending him flying.

"Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!" Natsu launched a sneak attack from behind. Laxus glanced at Natsu, turned in midair to defend himself, and the Brilliant Flame struck him, sending him hurtling toward the ground.

Natsu and Gajeel seized the chance to unleash their Roars.

"Dragon's Roar!"

"Iron Dragon's Roar!"

At that moment, Laxus got to his feet.

"Roar of the Lightning Dragon!"

Laxus's Roar was even more powerful than the two combined, instantly swallowing Natsu and Gajeel.

As the dust settled, Natsu and Gajeel were badly wounded. They struggled to lift their heads and look at Laxus.

"You... you're also a Dragon Slayer... Wizard?"

"I never thought the two of you could force me to use this mode. You should be proud. Now I'll use this mode to send you on your final journey."

"Roar of the Lightning Dragon!!"