Chương 91: Chapter 91: Ian Beats Up Scumbag Gildarts!
"Hey!"
"Who the hell are you?"
Gildarts turned his head towards the voice, seeing a man wearing a clown mask, with his body hidden beneath a cloak that obscured his form.
"Me?"
"Yeah, who are you?"
"Well, if you insist... I suppose you could call me a messenger of justice?"
The masked man seemed to contemplate his own words for a moment, then smiled as he spoke.
"A messenger of justice?"
"Forget it..."
"No matter who you are, if you don't want to die, get lost right now!"
"I'm in a really bad mood today..."
"If you push me too far..."
"Even I can't guarantee what I'll do."
The veins bulged one after another on Gildarts' forehead. If it weren't for his conscience, restraining him from recklessly using his magic in the town, he would definitely teach this disrespectful brat a lesson.
"Oh, wow~"
"I'm so scared!"
"But now I'm really curious—just how far will you go if I push you over the edge?!"
The masked man casually approached Gildarts, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I get it now."
"You're here to cause trouble, aren't you?!"
Gildarts' eyes narrowed to slits. He had finally realized that this masked man was here specifically to stir up trouble.
"Heh heh..."
"You could say that."
The masked man chuckled, nodding.
"If you came here to fight me, just say so!"
"Follow me to the mountains behind Magnolia Town; there are fewer people there..."
"It's perfect. I'm particularly pissed off today..."
"I've been wanting to fight someone to blow off some steam!"
Gildarts spoke, eager, while loosening up his wrists and ankles, producing cracking sounds.
"Well, that's convenient—I'm feeling pretty angry myself."
The masked man laughed, tilting his head slightly as magical energy surged through his body.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, the rain enveloping Magnolia Town seemed to pause, as if someone had pressed the pause button on a movie.
One moment, the masked man stood meters away, and in the next instant, he was right in front of Gildarts. The speed of his approach made Gildarts' hairs stand on end.
"So fast!"
Gildarts couldn't help but praise, instinctively raising his hand to block the masked man's incoming attack.
"Here we go!"
But the masked man was even faster. Before Gildarts could react, the masked man landed a punch right into his abdomen.
"Boom!"
There was an explosive sound, and Gildarts rocketed upward like a missile, the sheer force splitting the downpour into two.
"Such raw physical strength."
Gildarts felt a sharp taste in his throat, blood threatening to spill from the corner of his mouth.
Boom...
Before Gildarts could recover, the masked man on the ground waved his hand gently. A powerful horizontal gravitational force struck Gildarts like a bullet train exceeding 500 kilometers per hour.
Whoosh!
In just a single exchange, Gildarts shot towards the ground like a meteor, crashing into the hills behind the Fairy Tail Guild.
Boom!!
The deafening crash echoed through the mountains, startling countless birds, which took flight despite the pouring rain.
"Interesting!"
"It's been years since someone made me look this pathetic."
As the dust settled, a battered Gildarts struggled to his feet from the muddied ground. He tossed his cloak aside, a challenging grin playing on his lips as he looked up at the masked figure. "Come on! Keep going! Or is that really all you've got?!"
"How intriguing..."
The masked figure in the sky was none other than Ian, who had traveled through time. To avoid revealing his identity, he had donned the cloak and mask. He had thoroughly prepared—his purpose was to properly teach the overly arrogant Gildarts a lesson.
Seeing the young Gildarts daring to provoke him, Ian was naturally not one to back down. If he couldn't take down a forty-year-old Gildarts, surely the twenty-five-year-old version would be easier? This guy's arrogance was unbearable!
After a brief warm-up in the air, Ian ignored Gildarts' prepared magic and descended directly in front of the young Gildarts. "Since you seek death, I'll grant you a defeat!"
"Take this!"
Seeing Ian suddenly appear before him, Gildarts wasted no time. He unleashed his signature, top-level destruction magic—Crush.
"Even the highest-level destruction magic cannot shatter gravity!!"
Ian wasn't planning to hold back. He responded with his most adept gravity magic.
"Boom!!"
When Gildarts' Crush collided with Ian's gravity, Ian's superior magical power gave him the upper hand! With a tremendous roar, Ian blasted Gildarts and everything around him skyward.
"Such powerful magic..."
Sweat poured down Gildarts' face. Honestly, this was the first time he had lost in a direct magical clash, leaving him both anxious and thrilled. Deep inside, a voice cried out—so there really were such powerful mages in this world?!
There truly was always a greater sky above, a greater person beyond.
It meant his journey was far from over. He could continue to grow stronger.
Yes, at twenty-five, Gildarts had already reached a point where no one in the Fairy Tail Guild, nor anywhere in Fiore, could challenge him.
"You're quite the monster, Gildarts!"
Even Ian had to give Gildarts some credit.
At just twenty-five years old, Gildarts had undeniably stepped into the realm of the Ten Wizard Saints and was already quite far down that path...
From Ian's analysis, Gildarts at this point likely stood at the threshold of the "inhuman" level. Just one more step, and he would enter the domain of the "Heavenly Kings."
According to Makarov...
The current Gildarts could indeed match Jura from seven years after the start of the original story.
This level of strength was impressive, even for Ian.
It was both unexpected and expected.
After all, this was Gildarts, who, by the age of thirty-five, would dominate the Ishgar continent without equal—the one hailed as the strongest mage in the western continent, with the title that anyone who could defeat him would become Ishgar's mightiest.
Thinking of Laxus, who was the same age, Ian found it fitting.
Yes, the twenty-five-year-old Gildarts was on par with Laxus during the Grand Magic Games at age twenty-three and Jura at thirty-four. They seemed to be on the same level to Ian.
Jura was already a genius among mortals...
But Gildarts and Laxus? They were monsters.
For them, genius was just an entry-level label.
"Hey, hey, hey..."
"Did you just call me a monster?!"
"Then what are you, if you're stronger than me?!"
Gildarts raised an eyebrow.
He could feel it—Ian's true strength far surpassed his own.
Clearly, Ian had already crossed into that unknown realm.
"Let me help you break through your final shackles!"
Ian didn't hesitate. He first applied the aura concealing attribute he had learned from Selene's formation to hide his power...
Then he unleashed Dragon Force.
Ian's magical energy instantly changed drastically, his surroundings shrouded in an overwhelming, almost liquefied magical presence.
Yes, Ian was going all out to help Gildarts break through, wanting him to feel the true sensation of life and death! It definitely wasn't just him holding a grudge.
"Hey, hey, hey..."
"This isn't a joke."
Sweat beaded on Gildarts' forehead. His heart pounded furiously, fear enveloping him. This overwhelming sense of impending doom—he hadn't felt anything like it since stepping into the realm of the Ten Wizard Saints at age twenty.
"Yes, that's it!"
Gildarts suddenly laughed, finally understanding why he had been unable to progress for so long. It was the absence of this very sensation—only in the face of adversity can a person truly push themselves. In danger, there lies both great terror and immense opportunity!
"Boom!"
Just as Gildarts was overcome with joy, he blinked, and Ian vanished from before him.
"What?!"
Gildarts' pupils contracted. He scanned his surroundings but couldn't locate Ian. Panic set in until he looked to the sky and released his Crush magic towards the rapidly moving shadow. "I found you—there you are!!"
"Hey!"
"Just where do you think you're looking?!"
Suddenly, a mocking voice whispered in his ear.
"Wh-"
Before Gildarts could react, Ian's hand grasped his face and hurled him forward.
"Boom!"
With a sound like a sonic boom, Gildarts became a blur, slamming into a distant mountain.
"Boom!"
At the last second, Gildarts used his Crush magic to obliterate the mountain, avoiding a direct collision with the rocks and giving himself a brief respite.
"Too fast!"
"My reflexes can't keep up with his speed."
Sweat poured down Gildarts' face. Ian's display of power was beyond anything Gildarts had imagined, as if they were on completely different levels.
"Do you understand the gap between us now?!"
As Gildarts tried to catch his breath, Ian appeared behind him, whispering into his ear.
"Boom!"
Another thunderous noise—with the collapse of the mountain, Gildarts knelt on one knee, breathing heavily. Blood trickled down his forehead.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"You're seriously trying to kill me, aren't you?!"
Gildarts glared at Ian, his chest heaving with exhaustion, fully aware that Ian's intent had indeed been lethal just moments ago.
"Did I ever say I'd let you live?"
Ian looked down at Gildarts, his tone chilling.
"This is bad."
Gildarts frowned. He might be facing the greatest crisis of his life.
"Boom!!"
As Gildarts contemplated a way out, Ian unleashed a surge of magical power that burst through the dark clouds above.
The oppressive storm over Magnolia dispersed instantly, and in the next moment, crushing gravitational force descended on Gildarts. The overwhelming pressure made every bone in his body creak; his organs shifted painfully, bile rising in his throat, the acrid taste of blood filling his mouth.
In that moment of impending death, an image of a woman flashed in Gildarts' mind—the woman he loved most in his life, Cornelia.
Gildarts suddenly felt a pang of regret. He should have gone after her, begged on his knees if necessary, to make Cornelia stay...
"Boom!"
Gildarts blinked, and Ian's figure vanished before him. Then, Gildarts felt Ian's hand close around his throat, lifting him up effortlessly.
Against Ian's full strength, Gildarts had almost no chance to resist.
"You're going to die, Gildarts."
Ian's eyes glinted with malice, his voice cold.
"Ah..."
Gildarts wanted to say something, but as soon as he opened his mouth, blood spurted out. His face turned beet-red, then purple, his body overwhelmed by the sensation of suffocation.
"Once I'm done with you, how about I destroy that little town behind you?!"
"Let you truly experience the pain of losing those closest to you..."
"Oh, right, I almost forgot!"
"You already lost the one who mattered most to you, didn't you?"
"After I deal with you..."
"How about I chase after that train and let you all reunite?"
Ian's words were brutal, striking at Gildarts' very soul.
"No..."
"No..."
Gildarts ground his teeth, looking like a vengeful ghost, as he tried to speak.
"Hmm?!"
"What did you say?"
Ian asked, loosening his grip slightly.
"I said—you will not lay a finger on Cornelia!!"
Gildarts' eyes were bloodshot, his voice almost demonic. He didn't even know where the strength came from as he kicked Ian in the chest, sending Ian flying.
"Boom!!"
In that instant, Gildarts' magical power surged, overcoming the bottleneck that had held him back.
Just as Makarov had said—love is the most powerful force in the world. Facing a formidable enemy, Gildarts broke through into the "inhuman" realm, driven by his love for Cornelia and the Fairy Tail Guild.
"Hey! I don't know who you are..."
"But don't underestimate me!"
"I'm a mage of Fairy Tail..."
Gildarts wiped the blood from his mouth, a grim smile on his face as he watched Ian, who had been sent flying through a dozen thick trees, crashing to the ground.
"Heh heh..."
Ian got up, brushing the dust off. He looked at Gildarts, who had suddenly broken through, and grinned slightly.
However, Ian didn't continue the fight. Instead, he glanced into the distance and muttered to himself, "Troublesome. If it's two against one, it's not in my favor. I suppose we'll call it a day. I'll let you keep your miserable life for now, Gildarts. But as soon as you let your guard down, I'll be back for it. Make no mistake."
With that, Ian soared into the sky, disappearing into the horizon.
The moment Ian vanished, Gildarts collapsed to the ground, thoroughly exhausted. He had been running on sheer willpower; now he had nothing left.
"Boom!"
Not long after Ian left, a massive figure appeared in the sky.
It was a giant, bare-chested, radiating an intimidating aura that would make any ordinary mage tremble. The magical power, on par with the Ten Wizard Saints, was overwhelming...
The newcomer was none other than Makarov, Fairy Tail's current Guild Master. Makarov's body radiated magic that shook the earth and churned the clouds. He shouted after Ian's retreating form, "Get lost! Don't show your face again, or I'll make you pay! Anyone who attacks Fairy Tail will be dealt with by me!"
When Ian had fully disappeared, Makarov returned to his normal size. He approached Gildarts, who lay bloodied on the ground, and asked softly, "Are you alright, Gildarts?"
"Haha..."
"I'm alright, just a bit worn out..."
"The guy I fought just now was a real monster."
Gildarts let out a small laugh, his face showing relief.
"Don't worry, Gildarts. I'll report this to the Magic Council, ERA. Even if I have to risk my own life, I'll make that guy pay..."
Makarov's brows furrowed, an endless rage burning in his eyes!
He couldn't forgive anyone who attacked a Fairy Tail member.
"Master, just let it go."
"Don't try to chase him—you won't win."
"And don't issue a bounty—it'll get a lot of people killed."
Gildarts shook his head, smiling bitterly.
"Is he really that strong?!"
Makarov was stunned. He had thought the person was evenly matched with Gildarts and had fled upon seeing Makarov join the fight.
"Strong! Overwhelmingly strong!"
"Stronger than Precht..."
"I've never met a mage like that..."
"Even with both of us together, we wouldn't win."
"No, even with Warrod's help, we'd still lose."
Gildarts shuddered at the thought of Ian's strength. Now, he understood what he would teach Natsu years later about the taste of fear.
"Then why did he flee?!"
Makarov was puzzled. If the enemy was as strong as Gildarts claimed, why not finish them both off?
"Perhaps because he doesn't bear true hostility towards Fairy Tail?!"
"He acted like it, but his punches were more like venting..."
"I almost think Cornelia sent him to teach me a lesson."
Gildarts chuckled bitterly.
"Most importantly, he helped me break through my bottleneck."
Gildarts unleashed a wave of magic, one that surpassed Makarov's.
The magic flared for a moment before fading—not because of anything else but because Gildarts' body couldn't handle the exertion.
"Powerful enough to beat even you!"
"And he helped you break through..."
"And he seemed to take Cornelia's side..."
"I think I know who it is!"
After a moment's thought, Makarov smiled knowingly.
"Who?"
Gildarts looked at Makarov, puzzled.
"It must be Fairy Tail's legendary Second Guild Master, stronger even than Warrod—Master Precht himself!"
"Gildarts, you're lucky! You only got beaten up and even broke through. If you weren't a Fairy Tail member, you'd be dead! After all, Precht hates guys like you—those who leave women behind! I heard it was because the woman that Master Precht once cherished the most was hurt by a scumbag..."
Makarov spun a wild tale right before Gildarts.
"Interesting..."
Gildarts gritted his teeth, growling, "I appreciate the help with my breakthrough, but I won't forget this beating. One day, I'll pay him back."
Meanwhile, Precht, who had just begun building the dark guild Grimoire Heart, could only sigh: "Huh? What does this have to do with me? Damn it, Makarov, you're screwing me over!"
Elsewhere...
Ian had just finished thoroughly beating Gildarts, leaving him bloodied while helping him break through his bottleneck. Now, Ian sighed with relief.
"Next up, I just need to heal Cornelia."
Well, Cana had two regrets.
One was hoping someone would beat up her scumbag father to get revenge for her mother. The other was curing her mother, Cornelia. Ian had fulfilled one.
Cana truly was a little angel—despite being abandoned by Gildarts for so many years, and despite Gildarts not recognizing her even after she joined Fairy Tail, she hadn't held any resentment. Hoping for someone to teach Gildarts a lesson was only for her mother's sake.
Gildarts really was a bastard.
If it weren't for the fact that he was a comrade of Fairy Tail, Ian wouldn't have just left him half-dead. And he'd certainly not have framed it as a way to help him break through!
Fine, one rogue can't laugh at another.
"Sigh."
After letting out a long breath, Ian set off in the direction Cornelia had gone.
This family would fall apart without him.
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