Chapter 161: FTRJ: Chapter 161
Lisanna’s grip on Finn’s arm was broken as he effortlessly deflected her attack. With a swift, powerful right hook, he struck Lisanna’s gian
Lisanna’s grip on Finn’s arm was broken as he effortlessly deflected her attack. With a swift, powerful right hook, he struck Lisanna’s giant bear form in the abdomen.
Instantly, Lisanna was sent flying, the Take Over dissolving, reverting her back to her human form. Finn had, of course, held back; his intention was merely to incapacitate her, not inflict serious harm.
"My chance!" Before Finn could retract his fist, Juvia, who had silently closed the distance, launched her attack, a gleam of triumph flashing in her eyes.
The water swirling around Finn coalesced, forming a powerful current as Juvia materialized behind him, less than a meter away.
Seeing Finn’s unguarded back, Juvia recognized this as her only opportunity for success. A frontal assault would be futile; her only hope lay in a surprise attack, creating a fleeting moment of vulnerability. And she had seized that precise moment.
"Water Ray!" Juvia channeled her magic, compressing an even larger volume of water than before, then unleashed it with terrifying speed. This was one of her most powerful single-target attack, and everything depended on its success.
However, Juvia had overlooked a critical detail: Finn’s hand-to-hand combat skills were among the kingdom’s elite, even without resorting to magic.
To Juvia’s utter despair, Finn’s body moved with unnatural agility, twisting at an impossible angle to evade the attack. The powerful jet of water, having missed its target, tore through the ground, leaving a massive gash in its wake, resembling a devastating sword strike.
Juvia stared, dumbfounded, at the scene unfolding before her, struggling to comprehend how Finn had managed to react so swiftly.
"For a qualified mage, constantly being aware of your weaknesses is paramount, Juvia," Finn stated calmly, his voice resonating through the passage.
Finn’s right foot, which had been firmly planted in the ground, suddenly rose with surprising speed, connecting with Juvia’s body in a powerful kick.
Intense pain shot through Juvia’s entire body. The proximity of their positions, coupled with Finn’s lightning-fast reflexes, prevented Juvia from even attempting to utilize her elemental transformation before the impact. Her body, propelled like a cannonball, flew across the passage.
"Pay attention to your weaknesses," Finn instructed calmly, his voice laced with a hint of patient guidance. "When engaging in close-quarters combat against an opponent with demonstrably superior martial arts skills, if your surprise attack fails, immediate retreat is the most prudent course of action."
"It is imperative to avoid remaining static and vulnerable, as even the slightest opening can be exploited by your opponent, providing them with an opportunity to counterattack," Finn continued, his voice laced with a tone of emphasis.
"This is fundamental combat knowledge," Finn concluded, his gaze fixed upon the two women as he offered them a patient lesson.
"It hurts..." Juvia groaned, clutching her abdomen as she struggled to lift her head, her gaze fixed upon Finn’s imposing figure. Despair completely enveloped her heart.
Finn shook his head, his expression one of disappointment.
WHOOSH—
A terrifying surge of magical energy erupted from Finn, generating a tangible gust of wind that spread outward in a powerful storm. The surrounding walls and the very ground beneath their feet instantly crumbled and shattered, the sheer force of the magical energy causing widespread devastation. The storm alone was enough to knock the two women to the ground.
A heart-stopping aura of immense power enveloped the small space.
"He’s too strong... this is a battle we cannot possibly win," both Juvia and Lisanna thought, their minds filled with a sense of utter hopelessness as they gazed upon Finn, who stood at the epicenter of the magical storm.
Finn slowly extended his hand, his expression one of quiet solemnity. "I apologize, but you two have not yet met the requirements for S-Class status. I urge you to strive for greater excellence in your future endeavors," he stated, his voice devoid of any emotion.
With a swift movement, Finn opened his hand, and an inferno of flames instantly engulfed Juvia and Lisanna.
"AAAAAH!!!"
Their screams merged into a single, agonizing cry, a sound so distressing that even Nancy instinctively covered her eyes, unable to bear witness to their suffering.
The next moment, the flames dissipated, revealing Juvia and Lisanna lying unconscious on the ground.
"Are they alright?" Nancy inquired, her voice laced with concern.
Once the ordeal had concluded, Finn relaxed, a faint smile gracing his lips. "Of course, they’re fine. They simply exhausted their magical reserves," he explained calmly.
"I have a good sense of control," he added, reassuring Nancy. After all, Finn had no intention of harming his fellow guild members.
"That’s good to hear. Should we return to the temporary base now?" Nancy asked, her voice laced with relief upon hearing Finn’s confirmation of Juvia and Lisanna’s safety.
Finn turned his gaze towards the two unconscious women lying on the ground. "Let’s transport them back to the base first. We’ll return together once the other participants have completed their trials," he instructed.
"That sounds like the most reasonable course of action," Nancy agreed, nodding in assent.
As they prepared to carry Juvia and Lisanna away, a deafening roar echoed across the island.
Instantly, a colossal pillar of magical energy erupted from the passage designated as ’E’, its power so immense that the entire island trembled violently, seemingly overwhelmed by the sheer force of the magical energy. The surrounding sunlight was noticeably dimmed, and the only light visible was the blinding white light emanating from the magical pillar.
"That feeling!" Nancy exclaimed, her eyes widening in astonishment. Based on her extensive experience, she had only ever witnessed such a potent display of magical energy from one individual—Finn himself.
"If my assessment is correct, then that must be Gildarts, the mage widely regarded as the strongest within Fairy Tail," she stated, her voice laced with a mixture of awe and apprehension.
She turned to Finn, seeking confirmation of her suspicions.
Finn nodded, his expression one of quiet acknowledgement. "Indeed, that magical energy undeniably belongs to Gildarts," he confirmed.
"The mages of Earth Land are truly terrifying," Nancy commented, her voice filled with a mixture of wonder and respect.
"However," Nancy continued, stroking her chin thoughtfully, "I suspect that even Gildarts’ power would likely fall short of your own."
Nancy paused, lost in contemplation, as she recalled the incident involving the Dragon’s Chain Cannon. During that encounter, Nancy had witnessed firsthand the sheer magnitude of Finn’s power.
Witnessing Nancy’s thoughtful contemplation, Finn offered a gentle smile, stroking the top of Nancy’s head affectionately.
"Such a comparison is ultimately meaningless," Finn remarked, his voice laced with a hint of wisdom. "Regardless of how powerful an individual may appear to be, every person possesses inherent weaknesses. The perception of strength is merely a subjective judgment made by others; it’s not something to be overly concerned about."
Upon hearing Finn’s words, Nancy nodded slowly, her expression one of thoughtful consideration.
Finn’s gaze shifted towards the epicenter of the magical energy emanating from passage ’E’.
"To elicit such a powerful reaction from someone like Gildarts... it can only be Natsu," Finn concluded, his voice laced with a hint of anticipation.
"And so, how will you choose to confront such overwhelming despair, Natsu?" Finn murmured softly to himself, his voice barely audible above the ambient sounds.
Within passage ’E’, a torrent of white magical energy swirled violently, sending countless fragments of rock and debris flying through the air, wreaking havoc upon the confined space.
From a safe distance, Happy stood transfixed, his gaze fixed upon the figure standing at the epicenter of the magical energy.
The figure’s eyes, devoid of any emotion, glowed with a crimson light, resembling the malevolent gaze of a demonic entity from the depths of the abyss. The sheer power emanating from the figure was truly terrifying.
Even from such a considerable distance, Happy could still sense the intense volatility of the magic surrounding Natsu.
"Natsu..." Happy whispered softly, his voice laced with a mixture of concern and apprehension. He watched as Natsu’s body trembled slightly, his voice filled with worry.
The Natsu who stood before him was a far cry from the fearless and unwavering individual Happy had always known. This was a side of Natsu that Happy had never witnessed before.
Beads of sweat trickled down Natsu’s forehead, tracing a path down his cheeks. His hands trembled uncontrollably, his fingers struggling to even clench into fists. His dilated black pupils reflected Gildarts’ solemn expression, his eyes mirroring the gravity of the situation.
The violent surge of magical energy whipped Natsu’s clothing around him, seemingly attempting to restrain his advance.
"No!" Natsu vehemently shook his head, his voice laced with a fierce determination as he fought to suppress the rising tide of fear within his heart.
He once again fixed his gaze upon Gildarts, his eyes hardening into a fierce glare.
"There’s no way I’m going to retreat here! I’m determined to become an S-Class mage!" Natsu declared, his voice ringing with unyielding resolve.
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