Chapter 172: FTRJ: Chapter 172

BOOM—!! The explosion shook the very heavens. The resulting shockwave reverberated through Tenrou Island, obliterating countless trees. As t

BOOM—!!

The explosion shook the very heavens. The resulting shockwave reverberated through Tenrou Island, obliterating countless trees.

As the dust began to settle, a landscape scarred with craters was revealed. Turbulent magical energy still filled the air.

“Ha… ha…” Makarov, arms crossed, gasped for breath. His body was torn and tattered, his face and hands blackened by soot. His entire frame trembled slightly.

Hades, in stark contrast, remained completely unscathed. He slowly approached.

“Truly worthy of my expectations. To uphold the guild for 48 years… truly impressive strength!” His voice held a note of grudging admiration.

“Ugh…” Makarov suddenly clutched his chest, a grimace of pain twisting his features. He collapsed to his knees, his strength failing him.

Hades frowned at Makarov’s weakened state.

“Are you alright, Makarov?”

The question seemed to surprise Hades himself, a wry smile touching his lips.

“It seems we’re both getting old,” he said with a sigh.

Makarov, one hand still clutching his chest, glared at Hades with blazing eyes.

Hades continued, “Two who walked different paths, finally meeting at their end. Fate’s final gift, perhaps?”

“Let me be the one to end this… a fitting end to the cycle.”

Makarov slowly rose to his feet. “You were once a great master.”

“Ha… ha… you taught me the meaning of ’harmony,’ guided me onto the right path,” Makarov said, his voice ragged and strained.

“Why did you become this way?!” he finally roared, his voice filled with anguish and betrayal.

Hades took a deep breath. “I have seen the abyss of magic! Magic originates from darkness, a power once feared. Though it later became integrated into daily life, ushering in a new era, when I delved into magic’s origins, I saw its true essence!”

A gleam, bordering on madness, shone in Hades’ eyes.

“Zeref!” Hades uttered the name. “To witness true magic, Zeref must awaken!”

Makarov finally understood Hades’ true ambition, the source of his madness. Without a doubt, Hades was now an enemy to the entire magical world.

“Sleep now, Makarov! Along with Fairy Tail!”

Hades slowly extended his hand, inky black magic coalescing within his palm. He flung it towards Makarov.

BOOM————

A sudden gust of wind stirred Makarov’s hair. His aged, weakened face turned towards the figure standing before him—a figure wreathed in flames. The attack Hades had just unleashed was utterly shattered before it could even reach its target.

“Finn!” Makarov smiled, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Finn, turning to see Makarov’s condition, felt a surge of furious protectiveness. This old man, who had raised him and guided him onto the path of righteousness, was now as frail as a flickering candle, on the verge of being snuffed out by the slightest breeze.

“Old man, hold on. I’ll get you back,” Finn said, gently guiding Makarov to safety.

He then turned to face Hades, his black eyes blazing with righteous fury. His face, contorted with rage, resembled that of a dragon whose scales had been brutally disturbed.

“Finn,” Hades spoke, pronouncing the name with a chilling calm. “Fairy Tail’s mage with the greatest potential.” A cruel smile played on his lips. “Excellent. Since I’ve decided to destroy Fairy Tail, I can’t leave you alive.”

“You bastard! You hurt our Gramps! You won’t get away with this!” Finn roared, his voice filled with incandescent rage.

“Impressive confidence, kid,” Hades said, extending his hand. A magic circle materialized, and chains of solidified magic energy lashed out towards Finn. Hades attempted to replicate the technique he had used against Makarov.

But as the chains approached, Finn effortlessly seized them with a single hand. Hades frowned, tightening his grip on the chains in an attempt to overpower Finn and fling him aside.

However, Finn, with a swift, unexpected countermove, wrapped the chains around his own hand. Flames erupted from Finn’s palm, spreading rapidly along the magical chains to Hades’ utter astonishment.

“It… it’s burning the magic flames?!” A gasp of disbelief escaped Hades’ lips.

Finn intensified his magical output, and the flames, fueled by his enhanced power, spread with alarming speed, engulfing the chains and reaching Hades’ hand in a matter of moments. An unbearable wave of searing heat washed over Hades.

Hades hastily released his grip on the chains, allowing them to be consumed entirely by Finn’s raging inferno.

“Impressive kid,” Hades said, a wry smile gracing his lips.

“You’re not worthy of calling me ’kid,’ you old fool!” Finn retorted, a sneer playing on his lips.

“What did you say?!” Hades’ voice was laced with disbelief and fury. He couldn’t believe his ears. This young man dared to address him with such insolence?

“Even Makarov, whom you so deeply respect, wouldn’t dare speak to me like that!” Hades roared, his eyes blazing with anger.

“Heh, who are you to compare yourself to him?” Finn scoffed, a cruel smile stretching across his face.

With a swift movement, Finn produced Ryujin Jakka, his signature blade, materializing in his hand. Without another word, he unsheathed the blade.

“All things in the universe, turn to ashes! Ryujin Jakka!!”

BOOM BOOM—!!

A tempest of raging flames erupted, a furious roar echoing through the ravaged landscape. The world around them was consumed by a sea of fiery red, yet the flames, seemingly sentient, danced around Finn, protecting him and Makarov from harm. The flames seemed to instinctively obey his will, as if worshipping their god.

Indeed, at that moment, Finn resembled a deity of fire, his mastery over the element absolute and unquestionable. The fiery crimson light illuminated Hades’ face, revealing an expression of stark terror. The intense heat was unbearable, a relentless assault on his senses. His single visible eye reflected only the fiery red glow of the inferno.

Sweat beaded on Hades’ brow. He took a deep breath, his voice laced with a hint of grudging admiration.

“Makarov, you’ve raised a truly formidable monster,” he muttered.

Hades’ abyss-like magic began to surge, a deep purple hue gradually encroaching upon the fiery red domain surrounding Finn.

“Let me witness the full extent of your flames,” Hades challenged, his voice filled with a mixture of apprehension and anticipation.

“You will,” Finn replied calmly, his eyes fixed on Hades as he began to advance, his movements fluid and graceful.

Makarov, watching Finn from the sidelines, felt a surge of immense pride welling up within his heart.

“Finn… he’s… he’s grown beyond my wildest expectations,” he murmured, his voice filled with a mixture of astonishment and paternal pride.

__________________

for more advance Chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.

For 10$- All advance Chapters.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep