Rhodes did not dodge. Instead, he clenched his right fist and struck straight toward the incoming blow.
Compared to Jura's Rock Iron Fist, his own looked like a grain of millet facing a boulder.
But as he swung out, his fist became covered in earthy yellow scales, then layered over with solid rock.
His fist expanded instantly. His wrist thickened as well, growing until it nearly matched the size of Jura's massive stone fist.
To ordinary spectators, it looked as if Rhodes simply punched forward, a magic circle flashed, and a stone fist the same size as Jura's erupted from his arm.
But if one looked closely, the fist bore faint rock scales, and the nails were a bit too sharp and long.
There was no time for the crowd to process these odd details. The two fists had already collided.
It was like two stone giants punching each other, or two houses being smashed together. The tremendous impact shook the entire artificial mountain. The thunderous roar and the sight of earth cracking and stone flying sent the audience's adrenaline surging, drawing screams from every direction.
Countless children burst into tears, and many adults felt their legs weaken from fear.
"Hmm."
"Hmph."
Both Jura and Rhodes grunted, shifting from a horse stance into a deeper bow stance as they poured strength into their blows.
The two massive fists began to crack from the point of contact. Bits of shattered rock rained down with dull thuds.
Finally, both giant fists crumbled completely, and the huge forearms and wrists collapsed to the ground.
Thick, dusty earth-colored smoke filled the mountaintop.
Rhodes drew back his hand and stood steady. With a wave to either side, a gentle breeze swept across the mountaintop and dispersed the dust.
"What beautiful wind magic," Jura commented as he leapt out of the crater. His clogs hit the ground with a clear snap. "Let us end the probing attacks here. It is time we began fighting seriously."
Rhodes nodded. "I have no objection."
"We do," the spectators cried silently in their hearts. "You call that a probing attack?"
"Oh my. They were not even serious?" Chapati exclaimed. "Mr. Yajima, are the Wizard Saints truly this strong?"
Yajima avoided a direct answer. "Quite astonishing, indeed."
Jenny swallowed nervously. "Seriously, is the venue going to be alright?"
Chapati said, "Do not worry. The organizers have prepared measures. Mr. Rhodes will also intervene if needed. Please watch the match comfortably."
Jenny: "…"
They saved their full strength until they knew he would intervene, and now they were about to unleash everything.
On the mountaintop, Jura and Rhodes both gathered their magic power. For a moment, the sky dimmed, the earth trembled, and the trees across the arena and even throughout the capital gave off a faint humming sound.
Only now did the spectators truly understand the saying: "When the Wizard Saints fight, heaven and earth change."
So earlier really had not been full power.
Again, Jura moved first.
He brought his feet together, clasped his hands, and like a monk deep in meditation, closed his eyes and murmured a silent chant.
The mountaintop shook violently. Cracks spread across the rock, and gravel floated into the air from the vibrations.
Without warning, Jura roared, "Resonating Purgatory."
The cracks spread across the entire mountaintop stage in an instant, most intensely beneath Rhodes' feet.
Blinding white light shone upward from the fissures. The ground split apart into slabs and was blown away by the light.
From the spectators' perspective, Rhodes was immediately swallowed by the radiant blast, and even Jura's silhouette became a black outline against the brilliant glare.
The pillar of light shot high into the sky, piercing the darkened clouds and scattering them. Only thin remnants of cloud swirled above the arena.
A large portion of the mountaintop was blown clean off. Yet no massive boulders fell into the stands.
Because Jura's magic had obliterated the large fragments before they could fly outward.
Even so, the shockwaves spread in all directions, forcing spectators to shield their faces. Chapati even had to hold down his wig.
The power left not only the audience stunned but even made Natsu and Gray's eyes bulge.
"What was that?"
"That old man clearly has something wrong with him."
Lucy covered her mouth. "With that kind of attack, is Mr. Rhodes alright?"
"It seems to use his own magic to resonate with the earth, creating violent vibrations, then resonate with the ambient magic in the air, causing a threefold chain reaction and producing an even larger explosion," Mavis analyzed. "A very powerful Magician."
Makarov nodded. "Of course. That destructive power is comparable to Gildarts."
Wendy listened to the two Guild Masters' analysis with growing anxiety. "Is Rhodes really alright?"
Carla comforted her, "Do not worry. If something were wrong, those two would not look so calm."
At that moment, Mira's right hand had already snapped Rhodes' staff clean in half, and her left hand had crushed deep fingerprints into the railing of the spectator stand.
Judging from her expression, she looked as if she might leap down at any second and punch Jura directly on his bald head.
Laxus crossed his arms. "He is fine."
Mira smiled gently. "Mm."
Laxus, still acting cool, silently stepped a little farther away from her.
Gajeel asked nervously, "You are not seriously thinking of going down there, right? If you break through the barrier, Rhodes will be disqualified."
"No need to worry," Mira said with a soft, sweet smile.
Gajeel, for once, moved closer to Laxus for safety.
Juvia said nothing at all, trembling quietly between her companions.
Just as everyone hoped, Rhodes was indeed unharmed.
When the vibrations finally settled, the first image to appear on the screen was not Rhodes himself but three small mountains, each taller than two people.
A faint golden barrier shimmered around the outer ring of the pillars.
As the brilliant white light faded, the golden shield shattered, and the three stone zongzi trembled gently before becoming still.
Rhodes stepped out from within them, completely unharmed.
"Three Pillar Gods?" Makarov frowned, recognizing the technique. "And a light-based defensive spell as well."
For a moment, even he could not recall the exact name.
Seeing Jura's astonishment, Rhodes calmly explained, "Three Pillar Gods, modified version, Mountain's Blessing. And the light magic is a refined and simplified blend of Fairy Sphere and Fairy Glitter. Starlight Protection."
Even as he said it, Rhodes frowned.
Today's Starlight Protection felt unusually smooth, almost effortless, far easier than before. Otherwise there was no way he could have layered two such powerful defensive spells instantly.
He had not practiced this magic recently. He pushed the thought aside. The match was still ongoing. He would figure it out later.
Rhodes extended one hand.
The tip of his index finger glowed earthy yellow.
His middle finger glowed emerald green. His ring finger glowed bright crimson. His pinky glowed pale blue.
Four kinds of magic power swirled in his hand. As he moved his arm, they intertwined into the shape of a magic circle. The lights shifted and fused until they formed a deep purplish black circle.
Before Rhodes could speak, Jura recognized it instantly. "Purgatory Shatter?"
He was not the only one. Mira, Lucy, and many others recognized the spell at a glance.
But the most shocked were Gajeel and Juvia, who knew all too well what this spell represented.
"You have got to be kidding. That forbidden spell once needed the combined strength of the Four Elements and the Giant Super Mage to cast. He alone…" Gajeel stopped mid-sentence.
Rhodes had already mastered Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind magic on his own. His magic reserves might even exceed what the Four Elements had combined.
Given that, casting this spell by himself… felt disturbingly plausible.
Laxus raised the most practical concern. "Using forbidden magic in this kind of venue, is that really allowed?"
...
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