Kaien's Six Eyes scanned the skies above Magnolia, locking onto the deadly formation of the Thunder Palace. Each floating magic lacrima was packed with violent lightning. If they detonated, the entire city would be reduced to rubble.
Should he destroy them now?
He could use Blue to wipe them all out at once… but who knew what other dirty tricks Laxus might unleash if cornered.
No—it would be smarter to deal with him first, then dismantle the formation.
Kaien's gaze shifted.
"Found you."
Fwoosh!
In the next instant, Kaien appeared right in front of Bickslow.
All around them lay members of Fairy Tail, recently taken down by Bickslow's assault.
"Kaien!!"
Bickslow flinched. Like Evergreen, he'd seen Kaien in action. Whether it was that dark-suited man or the towering bearded warrior, both forms of Kaien's Take Over Magic were nothing short of monstrous.
Laxus had warned them beforehand: if they ran into Kaien, they were to flee. None of them were a match for him. Laxus would handle it himself.
This new transformation… it had to be another of Kaien's many forms.
According to intelligence, the Whitebeard form was his strongest—but it was too destructive to use within the city. If Kaien had chosen this form instead, Bickslow figured he might just stand a chance.
If he could defeat Kaien here and now, not only would he clear the path for Laxus… he'd become famous overnight.
Bickslow licked his lips, the thrill of the opportunity taking hold.
"Go, BABIES!!"
He unleashed his wooden puppets, which fired blasts of light toward Kaien.
Fzzt—
The light spheres froze in midair before ever reaching him.
"What?!"
Bickslow blinked in disbelief.
"Frontline Formation!!"
The five puppets lined up, combining their energy into a wide laser slash.
Kaien raised his hand.
The beam stalled just before touching him—then, with a casual flick of the wrist, Kaien redirected it.
CRACK—!
The slash sheared a nearby building clean in two.
"Ghh…"
Realizing the attack did nothing, Bickslow immediately turned to flee.
Fwoosh!
Kaien appeared directly in front of him.
"Teleportation?! No way!!"
Bickslow's skin crawled. He hadn't expected Kaien to teleport.
BAM—!
A single kick from Kaien landed square in his gut.
"UGH—!"
Pain exploded through Bickslow's abdomen.
CRASH—CRASH—CRASH!
He smashed through the nearby wall, cratering into a building.
"Two down. Two left."
Fwoosh!
The very next second, Kaien landed in front of Cardia Cathedral.
Freed was already there, standing calmly in front of the grand steps. It seemed he had been waiting.
"Freed."
It was Kaien's first time seeing him in real life. In the anime, Freed wasn't just a pretty face—he was dependable, powerful, and his Rune Magic could even trap someone like Makarov, one of the Ten Wizard Saints.
Freed eyed Kaien carefully. This man had been creating legends since the day he joined the guild. Compared to the reckless Bickslow and Evergreen, Freed was far more composed.
Kaien swept his gaze across the cathedral. Through the clarity of Six Eyes, he could see the countless Rune Enchantments laid out like spiderwebs.
"You really went all out."
"Against you, anything less would be suicide."
"You really believe in Laxus that much?"
"I do. I'm a member of the Thunder God Tribe—his follower. Our duty is to help him fulfill his vision."
"Even if that vision means hurting your comrades?"
"…"
Freed paused—then spoke firmly.
"Even so. I am Laxus's personal guard. I will carry out any order he gives."
"I see. Then I've got nothing more to say."
Kaien stepped forward.
Fwoosh—
A glowing Rune Barrier surged up around him.
Rule: All who use magic within this barrier will suffer oxygen deprivation.
Kaien raised a hand. A Blue Orb formed in his palm.
He pressed it gently against the barrier.
CRACK—!
The rune shattered and disintegrated as if being chewed apart.
"What?!"
Freed reeled. He knew Kaien might break through—but this easily?
Rune Magic was supposed to be absolute. Anyone inside the field should have instantly collapsed from oxygen loss.
And yet… Kaien was fine.
Still walking.
Still transformed.
"You're wondering how?" Kaien said calmly.
"You're using magic. You should be unconscious. The runes should apply to you. How are you unaffected?!"
"You've got your runes," Kaien replied, "and I've got mine. Yours are etched into the ground and air… mine are carved into my brain."
"You're a rune mage?!"
"Sort of. Mine's a little different. It's called Limitless."
He raised a hand, fingers forming a narrow gap.
"Basically, it redefines distance as an infinite scale. A centimeter can become 10 millimeters, or 10,000 microns, or 10 million nanometers—whatever units come next, I don't even know."
"The moment I stepped into your rune barrier, your rule did start acting on me. But to reach me, it has to pass through my Limitless field."
"Your rule never reached me before I broke the barrier."
Freed's expression grew grim.
He had never met anyone like this.
If what Kaien said was true, then none of his runes could affect him.
But still—he wasn't ready to believe it.
Not yet.
Fwoosh—!
Kaien took a step forward—and another rune surged up.
Rule: No magic may be used within this space.
Freed's eyes locked on Kaien.
Even now, standing within the Anti-Magic Field, Kaien maintained his Gojo transformation.
That meant…
He hadn't lied.
Freed's lips parted.
"Monster—!"