Chapter Summaries

Hughes tested Kami-e by dodging Laxus’s lightning with his eyes closed and unexpectedly comprehended both Kami-e at mastery and Observation Haki at advanced proficiency. He left the valley newly aware of his power and of Mira’s unusually strong emotions toward him.

• Hughes asked Laxus to attack so he could demonstrate Kami-e, then dodged his lightning strikes with his eyes closed.
• Laxus increased the speed and volume of his lightning, but Hughes evaded every bolt while the onlookers watched in astonishment.
• Natsu asked Gray if he could dodge the lightning, and Gray tricked him before hitting him with an ice hammer.
• Hughes learned that he had comprehended Kami-e at mastery and Observation Haki at advanced proficiency.
• Mira comforted Hughes, who told her he had learned an even more powerful move, while Laxus worried about surpassing him.
• Hughes sensed Mira’s intense emotional fluctuations as she blushed and glanced at the hand resting in the crook of his arm.

Hughes discovered that mastering the Six Powers had unlocked Life Return as a talent, then joined Mira and her siblings in preparing dinner for Makarov and Laxus. After the meal, Makarov proposed that Hughes and Laxus team up for a job and handed Hughes the request to inspect.

• Hughes checked his panel and learned that mastering the Six Powers had granted him Life Return as a talent that caused no harm if he had enough energy.
• Mira called Hughes back from training and explained that Laxus and Makarov were coming to dinner to discuss something with him.
• Hughes teased Lisanna, who offered him gossip about Mira in exchange for being let go.
• Makarov and Laxus arrived with gifts, and Hughes waived their meal charges before they all ate dinner.
• After dinner, Makarov handed Hughes a job request and said he planned for Hughes and Laxus to complete it together.

Makarov gave Hughes an S-Class mission to accompany Laxus to Thunder Valley, where Laxus could absorb lightning and build up his magic power. He explained that Hughes would also investigate Tartaros and Dojigiri Ezel, who had recently been seen in the valley.

• Hughes mistook Makarov's mission request and its 7 million J reward for an insult, then punched Laxus, who retaliated until Makarov forced them both to sit down.
• Mira joined Hughes at the table while Makarov explained that he and Laxus had arranged the mission to help Hughes grow stronger and accelerate Laxus's progress.
• Makarov told Hughes that Thunder Valley's constant lightning could help Laxus accumulate magic power because he was a Lightning Dragon Slayer Mage.
• Makarov revealed that a mage had recently spotted Dojigiri Ezel of Tartaros in Thunder Valley and that he wanted Hughes to investigate the dark guild and expose its presence.

Makarov explained that the Magic Council had approved Hughes's request to hunt Dojigiri Ezel, protecting Fairy Tail from blame if Hughes killed him. Hughes prepared to leave for Thunder Valley and divided the reward money, then returned seven million J toward his debt to Makarov.

• Makarov revealed that he had submitted a request form to the Magic Council to shield Hughes and Fairy Tail from punishment for the hunt.
• Hughes looked forward to absorbing Dojigiri Ezel's Devil Factors and raising the Flame-Flame Fruit's Awakening.
• Hughes wiped Makarov's spit on Laxus's clothes, dodged Laxus's punch, and was slapped down by Makarov, who told them to focus on the mission.
• Hughes said he and Laxus would leave for Thunder Valley later that night, and Mira offered to prepare food for the journey.
• Makarov handed over the reward for the Threads of Illusory Evil request, and Hughes split it evenly between Makarov and Laxus.
• Hughes had Mira bring out seven million J in savings and told Makarov that he had nearly repaid half his debt.

Hughes flew from Magnolia to Thunder Valley to test [Talent: Life Return], arriving ahead of Laxus and disguising himself as Jose Porla. He found Dojigiri Ezel absorbing the valley’s lightning and approached him while pretending to be Zeref.

• Hughes flew at full speed from Magnolia, carrying food Mira had prepared and using a navigation Magic Crystal borrowed from Makarov.
• Laxus contacted Hughes from Black Flower Town, where Phantom Lord members were causing trouble, and Hughes realized he had flown two towns ahead of him.
• Hughes flew through the night and reached Thunder Valley before Laxus, then used Life Return to reshape his face into Jose Porla’s and imitate his expression.
• Hughes sensed an ominous presence in Thunder Valley and flew toward it as the valley’s lightning gathered around him.
• Hughes found Dojigiri Ezel absorbing lightning, appeared behind him, and introduced himself as Zeref, startling the demon.

Hughes, disguised as Jose Porla, tortured Dojigiri Ezel in Thunder Valley to absorb Devil Factors and raise his Flame-Flame Fruit awakening progress. A system quest then directed him to defeat Daz Bones within ten days.

• Dojigiri Ezel attacked Hughes with Onimaru, but Hughes took the strike without injury and trapped the demon in lightning.
• Hughes pierced Dojigiri Ezel’s shoulder and sent lightning through his wounds, torturing him while the system detected Devil Factors.
• Hughes absorbed Devil Factors from Dojigiri Ezel, increasing the Flame-Flame Fruit’s awakening progress as the system converted the Dice-Dice Fruit awakening attempt.
• Hughes stomped and threatened Dojigiri Ezel to make him remember Jose Porla and seek revenge after being reborn.
• The system detected Daz Bones and activated a quest for Hughes to defeat him within ten days.

Hughes defeated Dojigiri Ezel while pretending to be Jose Porla, then questioned him about the other Nine Demon Gates. He stopped Ezel from self-destructing and absorbed Devil Factor, leaving him alive for a future rematch.

• Dojigiri Ezel attacked Hughes with powerful sword slashes, but Hughes emerged unharmed and taunted him by claiming to be Jellal.
• Hughes caught Ezel by the head, slammed him into the ground, and dismissed his threat to start a war between their guilds.
• Ezel transformed into his Etherious True Form, but Hughes caught and broke his four black blades, then stabbed the fragments into Ezel's back.
• Hughes asked Ezel where the other members of the Nine Demon Gates were, while Ezel tried to self-destruct rather than endure further torment.
• Hughes interrupted Ezel's self-destruction, absorbed enough Devil Factor to raise his Flame-Flame Fruit Awakening to 42%, and stabbed Ezel with the broken blades again.

Hughes defeated Dojigiri Ezel and Daz Bones, then prepared Thunder Valley for Laxus while plotting to disguise himself as Jose Porla and make Laxus appear to defeat a Wizard Saint. Laxus arrived to find treasure hunters discussing the valley’s destruction and recent discoveries.

• Hughes watched Dojigiri Ezel vanish after threatening revenge, and he planned to use Ezel’s return to gain more Flame-Flame Fruit awakening progress.
• Hughes completed the mission to defeat Daz Bones and received another physical enhancement, then considered testing his strength and taking on missions for Armament Haki.
• Hughes cleared dangerous lightning from Thunder Valley so Laxus could train safely, reflecting on his friendship with Laxus and his wish to help him grow.
• Hughes saw Laxus arrive exhausted and decided to pose as Jose Porla so Laxus could defeat him publicly and attract challengers.
• Laxus reached Thunder Valley and heard treasure hunters discuss its destruction and the Magic Crystals they had found, leaving him confused.

Laxus rushed to Thunder Valley after hearing that Hughes had fought there, only to be ambushed by Hughes disguised as Jose Porla. Hughes provoked Laxus into unleashing powerful lightning attacks, but effortlessly stopped them and prepared to continue the staged fight.

• Laxus heard that a battle had devastated Thunder Valley and hurried there, fearing Hughes had been hurt.
• Hughes appeared in Jose Porla's disguise and overwhelmed Laxus with a series of heavy kicks, driving him to the valley entrance.
• Hughes told the onlooking mages that Laxus was weaker than the fire-using boy, prompting Laxus to demand what had happened to Hughes.
• Laxus unleashed Lightning Dragon's Roar and Lightning Dragon's Halberd, but Hughes stopped the attacks and crushed the halberd.
• Laxus's lightning spheres exploded near the valley entrance and carved out a massive crater, while Hughes emerged unharmed and planned to prolong the act briefly.

Hughes disguised as Jose Porla fought Laxus in Thunder Valley, where Laxus drew on the valley’s lightning and unleashed Dragon Force. Laxus collapsed from the effort, while Hughes revealed himself and returned to him.

• Laxus survived his lightning attack on Jose Porla and realized the man before him was not fighting like the real Jose.
• Hughes maintained his Jose disguise, struck Laxus, and watched as Laxus absorbed Thunder Valley’s lightning and entered Dragon Force.
• Laxus unleashed his Narukami secret art, blasting Hughes into the sky as wizards nearby mistook the disguised Hughes for the defeated Jose.
• Hughes shed the lightning, revealed his true appearance, and flew back to Thunder Valley, where Laxus had fallen unconscious.
• Hughes woke Laxus by pretending Jose had returned, then pointed out a pile of beast dung instead.

Hughes practiced the Flame-Flame Fruit and successfully developed Flame Ring: Fire Pillar while Laxus recovered in Thunder Valley. Hughes then admitted he had impersonated Jose Porla and attacked Laxus, leaving Laxus furious as the two continued their teasing quarrel.

• Hughes used his awakened flames to create a small pillar of fire, then moved away from Laxus to practice a larger version.
• Hughes formed a ten-meter ring of fire and compressed its flames into a huge pillar that blasted into the sky.
• Laxus watched Hughes's display, then asked where he had been and what had happened before reaching Thunder Valley.
• Hughes confessed that he had impersonated Jose Porla and teased Dojigiri Ezel, prompting Laxus to grab him by the collar and punch at him.
• Hughes dodged Laxus's punch with Elementalization and claimed his stunt would make Laxus famous, but Laxus threatened to retaliate if he found an opening.
• Hughes jokingly slammed his forehead into a boulder, while Laxus demanded that he stop using Tekkai to protect himself.

Laxus questioned Hughes about his lack of magic and learned more about the mystery surrounding Hughes’s strength. After Laxus explained that his body limited his magical potential, Hughes said he knew a place that might help, but Laxus needed to grow stronger first.

• As they headed toward Thunder Valley’s strongest lightning, Laxus realized he had never sensed magic from Hughes and asked how he had disguised himself as Jose.
• Hughes admitted he had no magic, and Laxus pressed him about how he used powerful abilities and maintained such a strong physique.
• Laxus explained that his immense magic power had made him frail until Pops implanted a Lightning Dragon Slayer Crystal in him to keep him alive.
• Hughes told Laxus he could not explain his own physical growth but knew a place that might solve Laxus’s problem once he was stronger.
• Hughes warned Laxus that Guiltina was dangerous and urged him to train before facing its powerful dragons and mages.

Hughes and Laxus fled Fiore and Bosco’s armies after destroying Thunder Valley, then raced across Fiore as training before returning to Fairy Tail. Hughes left Laxus unconscious at the guild and joined the guild’s usual chaos.

• Hughes’s fireball collided with the lightning in Thunder Valley, destroying the valley and nearby territory, so Fiore and Bosco sent armies after him and Laxus.
• Hughes dragged Laxus away from the armies, and the two raced through several towns as Laxus tried to keep up.
• Hughes and an exhausted, unconscious Laxus returned to the Fairy Tail guild three days later.
• Hughes handed Laxus to Wakaba, then teased Macao into buying him a drink as the guild members mocked Macao and started a brawl.

At the guild bar, Hughes told Makarov that Dojigiri Ezel could return unless Pluton or Tartaros’s Hell Core was destroyed, then reassured the old man about the future. Hughes also asked Makarov to handle the fallout from the destruction in Thunder Valley before going home to sleep.

• Laki served drinks at the guild bar and told Hughes she wanted to help everyone.
• Hughes told Makarov that Dojigiri Ezel could revive because of the Nine Demon Gates’ contract with Pluton, and explained the ways to stop it.
• Makarov questioned how Hughes knew about Zeref and Tartaros, but Hughes offered to sell him information instead of answering.
• Hughes reassured Makarov, then revealed that he and Laxus had destroyed Thunder Valley and parts of Fiore and Bosco; Makarov agreed to deal with the Magic Council and kingdoms.
• Hughes returned to his villa while Mira, Elfman, and Lisanna were away on a job, then went to sleep.

Hughes visited Magnolia Town’s hot spring street with Macao and the Fairy Tail mages, but chose to soak alone rather than use the tavern’s other services. At the Emerald Spring, he was interrupted by its owner, Kailinfu, who knew his name.

• Hughes led Macao, Wakaba, Reedus, and the others along the hot spring street after Makarov gave him a premium VIP card.
• At the Emerald Spring, Macao split off with Hughes while Wakaba, Reedus, and the others stayed in the courtyard pools.
• Macao left Hughes at a private room, and Hughes heated the hot spring with the Flame-Flame Fruit before dozing in the water.
• Kailinfu entered Hughes’s room, introduced herself as the Emerald Spring’s owner, and greeted him by name.
• Hughes studied Kailinfu and wondered how she knew who he was.

Hughes confronted Kailinfu, who had used Sleep Magic to incapacitate Macao and the others, and discovered she carried Makarov’s token. After escaping her anger with a scare, he left Kailinfu vowing to get revenge.

• Hughes refused Kailinfu’s offered handshake, and she revealed that her glowing hand used Sleep Magic to make anyone she touched faint.
• Hughes grabbed Kailinfu by the throat and demanded that she release Macao and the others, but her magic took control of his arm while he searched her waist.
• Hughes found Makarov’s token on Kailinfu and accused her of conspiring with the old man, but Kailinfu denied it and said Macao and the others would wake soon.
• Kailinfu confronted Hughes over his behavior, but Hughes frightened her by pretending something was behind her and then slipped away.
• Kailinfu realized Hughes had escaped and vowed to pay him back.

Hughes investigated Kailinfu’s Sleep Magic and learned from Laxus that she was helping Makarov teach the guild’s lazy members a lesson. Hughes realized he had been caught up in the scheme and decided to stay at Laxus’s house for the night.

• Hughes found Macao asleep under Kailinfu’s Sleep Magic, failed to wake him with slaps, and went looking for help.
• Laxus brooded over Hughes’s powerful Fire Fist before Hughes arrived and kicked him out of his rocking chair.
• Hughes asked Laxus about Kailinfu and explained what had happened on the hot spring street.
• Laxus explained that Makarov had sent Kailinfu to make Macao, Wakaba, Reedus, and other idle guild members shape up, and said Hughes had merely been caught up in it.
• Hughes decided not to return to the hot spring street and asked Laxus for a room to sleep in.

Hughes and Laxus headed to the guild after learning Gildarts had returned to discuss Laxus's delayed S-Class Exam. On the way, Laxus was celebrated as the Thunder God for defeating Jose, while Hughes was branded a pervert, and Laxus enjoyed the contrast.

• Laxus trained in the eastern forest while Hughes slept in Laxus's house after refusing to join him.
• Laxus woke Hughes and told him that Gildarts had returned and that they needed to go to the guild about the S-Class Exam.
• Hughes and Laxus raced each other across Magnolia Town, trading taunts as Hughes repeatedly outpaced Laxus.
• Jason, a trainee reporter for Sorcerer Weekly, questioned Laxus about defeating Jose, and Laxus punched him before Hughes kicked him away from Laxus's lightning.
• The crowd admired Laxus but called Hughes a pervert, and Laxus stopped Hughes from confronting them because he enjoyed hearing the insults.

Hughes tried to deny Kailinfu’s accusation that he had violated her, but the evidence and her public claim that no woman would joke about her chastity left him unable to defend himself. When Mira and the Strauss siblings returned, Mira’s anger and Lisanna’s accusation made his situation even worse.

• Macao vowed to train hard, while Hughes and Wakaba argued with him and then mocked Hughes over Kailinfu’s accusation.
• Hughes insisted Kailinfu had framed him and asked Laxus to confirm he had spent the night at Laxus’s place, but Laxus ignored him.
• Reedus said Hughes’s fingerprints on Kailinfu’s dress supported her claim and heard Hughes explain how he had touched her.
• Reedus told Hughes that Kailinfu had publicly said no girl would joke about her chastity, crushing Hughes’s hope that people would doubt her.
• Gildarts was shocked, Laxus enjoyed Hughes’s predicament, and Makarov regretted his arrangements from the previous night.
• Mira returned with Elfman and Lisanna, judged Hughes harshly, and heard Lisanna call him a perverted molester.

Makarov announced Laxus’s S-Class Exam and laid out its tests, while Laxus and Gildarts discussed the challenge ahead. Hughes continued bickering with Laxus, and Makarov brought him over for an important task.

• Makarov announced that Laxus had qualified to take the S-Class Exam, which would begin the next day under his and Gildarts’s supervision.
• Mira stopped Hughes from dumping water on Laxus, and Hughes complained that nobody believed he had spent the night at Laxus’s house.
• Makarov said Laxus had to defeat an S-Class-level beast and earn Gildarts’s approval; Gildarts warned him that the fight would be difficult.
• Erza knocked out Natsu and Gray after their latest duel, and the guild laughed at the familiar outcome.
• Laxus told Gildarts he wanted to measure the gap between them, and Gildarts praised his ambition.
• Makarov brought Hughes to Laxus, where Hughes grabbed Laxus and teased him before Makarov insisted he had an important task for him.