Recaps

Hughes and Laxus investigated Dojigiri Ezel in Thunder Valley, where Hughes strengthened his abilities and pushed Laxus into Dragon Force before their attacks devastated the region. After hot spring accusations and disputes over Laxus’s S-Class Exam, Hughes left with Magic Council officers under Makarov’s warning about Crawford Seam.

• Hughes mastered Kami-e, gained Life Return, and accepted Makarov’s mission to investigate Dojigiri Ezel in Thunder Valley with Laxus.
• Hughes disguised himself as Jose Porla, defeated Dojigiri Ezel, and absorbed Devil Factors that raised his Flame-Flame Fruit Awakening to 42%.
• Hughes fought Laxus in Jose Porla’s disguise and drove him to absorb the valley’s lightning and enter Dragon Force.
• Hughes destroyed Thunder Valley and nearby territory with a fireball, fled the pursuing armies with Laxus, and left Makarov to handle the consequences.
• Hughes escaped Kailinfu’s Sleep Magic at the Emerald Spring, but her public accusation left the guild believing he had molested her.
• Makarov announced Laxus’s S-Class Exam, and Hughes rejected a vote and a rigged drawing that assigned him to capture an S-Class magic beast.
• Hughes fought the guild members before a Magic Council envoy arrived and ordered his arrest for damage in Fiore and Bosco.
• Hughes shattered the Magic Sealing Stone Handcuffs and accompanied the Council’s officers after Makarov warned him not to accept anything Crawford Seam offered.

Hughes clashed with the Magic Council and Makarov, then helped uncover Kailinfu’s plea to save her parents’ souls. After deciding to build his reputation, he began the Pirate Journey quest chain by targeting Aquarius at Little Lucy’s residence.

• Hughes confronted Crawford Seam at the Magic Council, defeated its guards, took two sealed demon vessels, and later destroyed the headquarters in a battle with Makarov.
• Makarov defeated Hughes and brought him to Porlyusica for treatment, while Crawford Seam, Ogre, and Michello planned to blame Jose for the Council’s destruction.
• Hughes returned to Fairy Tail, received Makarov’s pendant to conceal his lack of magic, and became embroiled in guild chaos and the rumors surrounding Kailinfu.
• Hughes raided Kailinfu’s taverns with Mira and Erza, then arranged a fight in which Erza defeated Kailinfu without injuring her.
• Kailinfu told Makarov and Hughes that Alvarez had destroyed her guild and imprisoned her parents’ souls, and Hughes offered to help her after growing stronger.
• Hughes revealed to Makarov that Bloodman was one of Zeref’s strongest demons and warned Kailinfu that Alvarez was far more powerful than she realized.
• Hughes celebrated Laxus’s S-Class promotion, then took Mira, Elfman, and Lisanna to Little Lucy’s residence to begin a system mission.
• Aquarius attacked Lisanna, but Hughes defeated her and completed the first Pirate Journey subtask before leaving Lucy with Aquarius.

Hughes defeated Dojigiri, confronted Jiemma, and took control of Sabertooth, bringing Rogue, Frosch, and Minerva into the guild. He left Sabertooth under Dobengal’s management while helping Makarov and Mira study demons and their Curses.

• Hughes used his Jose disguise to ambush Dojigiri, arranged for Mira to take over the demon’s Curse, and helped Elfman gain two of Dojigiri’s arms before Dojigiri died.
• Hughes learned Sabertooth had spread false rumors about him and set out to confront the guild, taking Mira along as she reconciled with him over Kailinfu’s ring.
• Hughes found Rogue and Frosch in the forest, rescued Minerva from beasts, and destroyed Sabertooth’s guildhall before defeating Jiemma and declaring himself the guild master.
• Hughes made Sabertooth a guild for members who would grow stronger without losing their humanity, welcomed Rogue, Frosch, and Minerva, and appointed Dobengal to manage the rebuilt guild.
• Hughes collected money from wealthy residents for beast-clearing work, then faced a Magic Council investigation after they accused him of stealing 220 million J.
• Hughes told Makarov that he had killed Jiemma and taken over Sabertooth so he could train powerful allies against the western continent, and Makarov agreed to help prepare the guild members’ training.
• Hughes summoned Blood Scythe Daemon, defeated and killed her, collected her Magic Barrier Particles, and helped Mira take over her Curse before sending the scythe and bottle to Granny Porlyusica.