CRACK—!!
Another barrier shattered into pieces.
FWOOSH—!
Rule: Within this field…
CRACK—!!
Before the rule even fully formed, the Rune Barrier was already destroyed.
Kaien's palm glowed, the Blue Orb spinning in his grip as he methodically crushed each enchantment. Not even a minute had passed, and Freed's carefully prepared array of spell barriers was obliterated one after another.
Freed's face turned pale. He drew his sword and began writing in the air.
SWISH—!
A large-scale barrier rose up around them.
Rule: Only one person may leave this field.
Kaien glanced at the rune and spoke coolly.
"Looks like you've made up your mind."
"That's right. If you want to reach Laxus, you'll have to go through me first!"
Freed had initially estimated Laxus versus Kaien to be a 60-40 match—at worst. But after witnessing Kaien tear through his defenses so effortlessly, he realized how naive that estimate had been. This was the man who had defeated Jose, one of the Ten Wizard Saints.
Now… a 30-70 split seemed generous. Maybe even 20-80. Worst-case… 10-90.
Still, Kaien had a weakness—Mana. If Freed could drain enough of it here, Laxus would stand a better chance.
"Dark Écriture: Demon Form!"
Freed carved dark runes across his body, transforming into a demonic state of power.
BOOM!
With a burst of energy, Freed launched himself toward Kaien, aiming a brutal punch straight for his face.
Kaien didn't dodge.
For a moment, Freed thought he'd landed a clean hit—until his fist stopped inches from Kaien's face, blocked by an invisible wall.
"What is this?!"
Kaien's voice was calm. "I told you already. This is Limitless Rune Technique. Your fist isn't stopped—it's just slowed. The closer you get, the slower you move. To the naked eye, it looks like you're frozen."
SNAP!
Kaien caught Freed's fist, yanked him forward, and slammed a punch directly into his gut.
"GAAAH!!"
Freed felt like his organs were screaming.
"I'm not done yet."
Kaien followed up with a flurry of strikes. Freed gritted his teeth and swung his arm, hurling Kaien away as he leapt into the air.
"Dark Explosion!"
A swirling vortex of black magic erupted from his body, shooting down toward Kaien.
Kaien raised a hand, forming a Blue Orb.
The vortex of black energy was sucked in, consumed like it was never there.
"What?!"
FWOOSH!
Kaien teleported above him midair—and flipped upside down, delivering a falling heel-kick.
"Teleportation?!"
Freed barely had time to cross his arms in defense.
CRACK—!
"NGHAAAH!!"
THUD—!!
He crashed into the ground with force, leaving a crater in the stone floor.
Kaien landed gently. Freed coughed blood.
"That's enough. Stay down," Kaien said coldly. His Cursed Energy-enhanced strikes weren't something most people could endure.
Footsteps.
Kaien turned toward the cathedral doors.
"St–stop…"
Freed stood again, swaying, barely upright.
"I won't… let you reach Laxus that easily!!"
He pulled both hands in, gathering every drop of mana he had left.
"In that case," Kaien said, raising his right index finger, "I won't hold back either."
He began channeling Reversed Rune Energy, pouring positive energy into his Limitless Technique. A crimson orb started to condense at his fingertip.
"Dark Laser Blast!!"
Freed hurled a powerful sphere of dark magic straight at him—crushing stone in its wake.
"Reversal Rune Technique: Red!"
Kaien fired the red orb.
A wave of repulsive force tore through the ground, obliterating the oncoming blast.
BOOM—!!!
The two forces collided in a deafening explosion.
But Kaien's Reversal Technique: Red overpowered the dark magic. The wave of force crashed into Freed with unstoppable momentum.
"NGYAAAAHHHH!!"
BOOM—!!
Freed's body slammed through the cathedral doors. A wave of shattered stone and air pressure flooded the Cardia Cathedral, his battered form rolling across the aisle—
—coming to a stop right at Laxus's feet.
Freed tried to speak, forcing out his last words.
"Laxus… be careful… Kaien…"
And then he collapsed.
Footsteps echoed.
Kaien strolled into the cathedral.
"So… you've come."
Laxus grinned with a twisted expression as he turned to face the approaching figure.
Kaien stepped forward.
"Yo. New look again? Damn it… it's annoyingly good-looking."
Kaien smirked. "Just a style change. I'd say it's on par with my usual charm, right?"
Laxus twitched. "You really are shameless. Why didn't I notice it before?"
"If you Didn't notice, maybe your eyesight just sucks."
"…Kaien, I'll say it again. Join me. Together, we can build the strongest wizard guild—not just in Fiore, but on the entire Ishgar continent."
Another offer. Another chance.
"I'm not interested."
Kaien turned him down again without hesitation.
"Tch. What a shame. In that case—don't stand in my way."
"I'm standing in your way? We've barely spoken a dozen words before this."
Laxus's face twisted with fury.
"Your existence is in my way!!"
"You know who was considered the strongest in Fairy Tail, right?" Laxus roared. "Everyone used to debate—was it you, or was it me? And then you beat Jose, the Phantom Lord Guild Master."
"After that, the debates stopped. Everyone just assumed it was you."
"Even that old man… he wanted to pass the title of Guild Master to you. That should've been mine!"
"You joined a year ago. A damn outsider. And now they want to give you what should have been mine?!"
"I won't accept it. I swear, I'll take back what's rightfully mine."
"Come on, then! Right here—right now!! Let's settle it once and for all!!"
"WHO IS THE STRONGEST IN FAIRY TAIL?!"