Return to Clover Grand Canyon

The dazzling golden beams were even more dazzling than flowing light, moving at an incredible speed. Jose had no time to react and was repeatedly struck back amidst a series of bombardments.

"I am one of the ' Ten Wizard Saints '!" Jose roared angrily, his face contorted in the golden light.

An endless stream of dark purple magic swirled around Jose, surging and turbulent, forming a magical shield.

Jose's pride would never allow him to fall before Makarov, even if it meant exhausting his magic and his life force.

The dazzling golden light and the dark purple shield were locked in a stalemate.

One breath, two breaths...

Having exhausted all his magical power to desperately resist, Jose finally held on until the golden light faded, and he forced himself to stand up, panting heavily.

Before Jose could make any other move, a blazing inferno, large enough to fill his entire field of vision, descended upon him, blasting him away to the far reaches of the sky.

Hughes breathed a sigh of relief as he finally finished off the attack. The mission had almost failed, but all his encouragement for Jose had been worthwhile.

Is 82-year-old Makarov really that strong?

It seems I'll have to be more subtle about how I squeeze his pension next time... Hughes silently crossed out some of his plans.

We can't afford to mess with them.

[Detection indicates that the Four Emperors Blackbeard has been defeated by the host. The mission "Challenge the Four Emperors Blackbeard" is complete!]

[Mission Reward: Significantly improved physical fitness has been awarded!]

As the system notification faded, Hughes felt an indescribable surge of intense heat coursing through his body.

If the heat that flowed through Hughes' body after completing the mission and receiving the rewards was like a small stream, then the heat flowing through Hughes body now is like a mighty river.

Lots of water...

The torrent of heat, after nourishing Hughes's skin, flesh, and bones, continued to flow deeper into his internal organs.

His heart was pounding, his blood was rushing, and Hughes could feel his pores bulging as he gasped for breath.

Blood began to seep from his five orifices, but Hughes felt more comfortable and clear-headed, as if he were floating on air.

The body seems to be evolving, just like the legendary process of "washing away the marrow and tendons."

Hughes placed his hand on his chest; his powerful heartbeat told him that he was now very strong.

He strolled around with an air of nonchalance, regarding Gildarts as an ant and Makarov as a child.

Then...

"Bang!"

An enormous fist struck Hughes from behind, sending him flying.

Like Makarov after eating Gum-Gum Fruit, he expressionlessly withdrew his enlarged and lengthened arm.

That bastard Hughes is a complete idiot; Makarov could clearly sense that after Hughes beat Jose up, his body inexplicably became stronger, just like last time at the guild when he asked him to put the guild crest on the tanuki.

But this brat doesn't even look at how many people are here. Is he trying to make sure everyone knows he has a secret?

Don't be fooled by the fact that everyone present is a mage from a legitimate guild; there are quite a few with ulterior motives among them. Do you really think everyone is as kind as Makarov?

"Gentlemen, this Guild Alliance meeting cannot continue. Let's call it a day! I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

After greeting a few friends, Makarov headed in the direction where Hughes had been sent flying by the hammer. Besides attending the Guild Alliance meeting, he also needed to handle an important matter in Clover Town.

Elsewhere, the Hughes, which was thrown by the hammer, did not crash and made a successful emergency landing.

"Sure enough, after a person becomes confident and arrogant, they will always encounter people who are jealous of them!" Hughes sighed as he landed, then glanced at the boulder beside him and slammed his fist down.

"Bang!"

The massive boulder, four or five meters thick, shattered into fragments that rolled down all around.

A moment later, Hughes expressionlessly crushed a rock that had accidentally hit his little toe.

It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt at all~

After releasing that punch, Hughes felt a sense of joy and relief, as if he had finally released himself after countless thrusts.

If he's in a good mood, he won't dwell on the stone that accidentally hit his little toe.

Hughes pulled his foot out of the lime powder.

Looking down, Hughes clenched his fist triumphantly. The mission reward, a significant boost to his physical abilities, far exceeded his expectations, especially compared to previous rewards.

This significant improvement in physical fitness is at least equivalent to three ordinary improvements in physical fitness.

At first, Hughes inwardly criticized the system. Both being Four Emperors, defeating Gildarts rewarded him with perfect-level Conqueror's Haki, but defeating Jose only resulted in a standard reward like improved physical abilities.

Now... Hughes is quite satisfied. What man wouldn't want a strong and hard body? Hehe...

"Smack!"

Hughes's bewildered smile faded slightly. He rolled his eyes and looked behind him. "Hey, President, could you please stop interrupting me when I'm having fun?"

Makarov, who had jogged over, withdrew his fist from Hughes's back and glared at Hughes irritably. "Next time you increase your strength without thinking, at least be mindful of the occasion!"

Don't think that only I can sense your inexplicable increase in strength. Those old fogies are not as simple as they seem!

After roaring, Makarov walked around Hughes several times, scrutinizing him for a while, and finally couldn't resist reaching out to pinch Hughes in various places.

"Hey~ President, even in the middle of nowhere, you can't reveal your true nature. I Hughes, am not that kind of person!"

Makarov knew Hughes was joking, but he still punched him hard in the stomach.

Some scoundrels just need to be beaten up.

Hughes, unimpressed, didn't even use the Tekkai to defend himself. He even considered uttering his signature provocative line. "Guild Master, is this all the strength you have? Have you been starving?"

But Hughes worried that the old man's heart couldn't handle it, so he gave up.

"I'm still too kind-hearted... I was just thinking of Makarov!" Hughes sighed inwardly.

"Your physique is getting more and more outrageous; you're almost comparable to the legendary mages who specialize in physical cultivation!" Makarov exclaimed.

"There are such mages?" Hughes asked in surprise, looking down.

He had never encountered such a mage in the Fairy Tail world he had visited.

"Magicians who specialize in physical cultivation all lived in ancient times and have long since disappeared into the river of time, so of course you haven't heard of them."

The reason I know this is because my Giant Magic is also a type of Lost Magic. I only learned these ancient secrets during the process of learning Giant Magic!

"Of course, none of that matters. The important thing is this!" With that, Makarov pulled a mission assignment sheet from his clothes and handed it to Hughes.

Hughes took it curiously and unfolded it for a closer look.

The commission was issued by the Magic Council, requiring Makarov to carry it out personally, and the task was related to Hughes.

Makarov compiled and wrote down the story of Hughes's chance encounter with the Primordial Demon Satan in the Clover Grand Canyon and submitted it to the Magic Council.

The Magic Council took this matter very seriously, ordering an investigation team to join forces with various kingdoms to thoroughly investigate the entire continent;

On one hand, he entrusted Makarov to personally go to the Clover Grand Canyon to investigate the whole matter and destroy the sealing array of the gods, so as to prevent unscrupulous people from creating forbidden objects through these ancient sealing arrays.