Chapter 37: Doing These Boring Things! Stripping Magic!
After returning to the guild, Ren didn't take any more requests. Because Ren was staying at the guild, Erza also remained in Magnolia for a long time, not leaving for requests.
With nothing to do, Ren spent his days sitting in the guild until late at night. The guild library was large enough to house most magic books.
Ren spent these days looking up magic information in the library.
After becoming an S-Class mage, Ren didn't rely solely on the system's abilities.
Under Makarov's guidance, Ren also awakened his own magic.
Moreover, Ren's body contained a powerful source of magic power, which even surprised Makarov.
One day, Ren was sitting at the bar drinking, flipping through the *Chronicles of the Kingdom of Fiore* with interest.
Suddenly, a noise sounded behind Ren.
Natsu stood not far from Ren, fists burning with flames, looking excitedly at Ren's back.
"Ren! Fight me!"
Ren turned around, looking at the eager Natsu helplessly.
Waving his hand at Natsu, Ren said, "I don't have time. Go find Erza."
Hearing Ren's words, Natsu got angry and shouted at Ren's back, "Erza went home to cook for you, you stinky guy! I really don't understand why Erza likes doing such boring things!"
"Ren, stop dawdling! Fight me!"
Seeing Ren unmoved, Natsu's aura surged, and he shouted loudly at Ren's back.
"So noisy!"
Ren turned around impatiently, putting down the book in his hand.
In the next instant, a purple magic circle condensed in Ren's palm.
"Sensory Deprivation!"
Magic power surged out of Ren's body.
The next moment, Natsu's vision suddenly went black, and he couldn't hear any sound.
Sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste—all vanished in that instant.
Natsu suddenly panicked, shouting loudly to his surroundings, "Hey! Ren! Gray! Happy! Where are you?"
"Why can't I see anything?!"
"Can anyone hear me?"
Natsu reached out with both hands, groping in front of him, trying to feel for someone.
Seeing Natsu's abnormality, Happy hurriedly flew in front of Natsu, grabbing his arm tightly.
But Natsu seemed to feel nothing, still shouting loudly.
Just then, Ren snapped his fingers, and Natsu's world of darkness suddenly returned to light.
Seeing everything clearly before him, he hugged Happy tightly in his arms.
Looking like a survivor of a disaster, he said to Happy, "Happy, you know what? Just now, I suddenly went to a pitch-black place. I couldn't hear or see anything. It scared me to death."
Feeling Natsu hugging him too tightly, Happy quickly struggled out of Natsu's arms.
Looking at the survivor expression on Natsu's face, Happy said puzzledly, "Natsu, are you stupid? You were clearly in the guild just now. I kept calling you, but you couldn't hear me."
"What's going on?"
Natsu only remembered a magic circle appearing in Ren's palm, then suddenly everything went black, and he couldn't sense anything.
Turning his gaze to Ren, Natsu hurriedly asked, "Ren, that was your doing just now, right?!"
"Hey, hey, Natsu. You were the one who kept wanting to duel me. I accepted the challenge!"
Ren had black lines on his forehead, pushing Natsu, who was leaning in close, to the side.
"What exactly happened just now?"
Natsu curiously squeezed next to Ren again, wanting to figure out what had happened.
"My magic, Deprivation!"
Ren raised his arm, and a purple magic circle appeared in his palm.
Seeing that familiar magic circle, Natsu quickly retreated backward, looking at Ren warily.
Ren rolled his eyes, clenched his hand, and the purple magic circle instantly disappeared.
"Deprivation? Was that your magic just now?"
Hearing Ren's explanation, the guild members also curiously gathered around.
Makarov narrowed his eyes, obviously already knowing about this.
"That's right. My magic can deprive the opponent of everything, like the five senses, or even magic power!"
Ren smiled, and a huge magic circle emerged beneath his feet.
In the next instant, everyone within the magic circle suddenly felt the magic power in their bodies completely disappear.
Their magic containers felt like dried-up ponds, completely drained.
Everyone looked terrified, feeling this scene with shock.
"This magic is too strong!"
"It's like a bugged ability!"
"With Ren's strength, plus this bugged magic, even the Ten Wizard Saints might not be Ren's match!"
Hearing the guild members' words, Makarov suddenly spat out a mouthful of wine.
Awkwardly looking at the gazes turned toward him, Makarov waved his hand hurriedly.
Because of Macao's comment just now, Makarov remembered some unpleasant things.
He remembered a year ago when Ren awakened this magic called Deprivation.
Afterward, he challenged Makarov to a fight.
At first, Makarov refused. After all, he was so old; he couldn't bully a kid like Ren.
But under Ren's repeated requests, Makarov accepted the challenge.
However, after accepting, Makarov suddenly felt his magic power sealed, completely disappearing.
Before he could react, he was sent flying by Ren's punch, crashing heavily to the ground.
Ren had no martial ethics, sneak-attacking an old man like him.
Makarov was furious just thinking about it.
But it also proved that Ren now had the strength of the Ten Wizard Saints.
Releasing the magic, everyone felt the magic power returning to their bodies and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Not chatting anymore. I'm going home to eat."
Putting down the book in his hand, Ren patted his butt and stood up, walking out of the guild with his hands behind his back.
Not far from Makarov, Natsu looked blankly at his hands.
Without even properly fighting Ren, had he completely lost?
Stripped of even his five senses, how could he be a match for that Ren?
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