Fairy Tail: Strongest Creature

Evergreen tried to suppress her unease. She spoke boldly:

"Impossible! If you want the petrification undone, you'll have to defeat us first."

"I gave you a chance," Su Yan said calmly.

Evergreen's face hardened. Without another word, she released her magic.

"Fairy Machine Gun: Leprechaun!!"

A swarm of tiny, needle-like bombs tore through the air toward Su Yan.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of explosions engulfed him in smoke and debris.

As the smoke faded, Su Yan stood there unscathed. Evergreen felt a wave of shock. She knew Su Yan was called the Undead Demon Emperor for his incredible defense, but she had never expected it to be this impenetrable.

Quickly, Evergreen raised her glasses, hoping to petrify Su Yan or at least stop him from looking her in the eye.

Om—!

The moment Evergreen lifted her gaze, a wave of Conqueror's Haki surged out from Su Yan.

"Ughhhh!"

The powerful force sent Evergreen flying, rattling her senses.

"Remove the petrification," Su Yan ordered, walking step by step in her direction.

"I… refuse!"

Om—!

Once more, the pressure struck Evergreen, hurling her back.

"Aaaah!"

"Remove the petrification."

"I—"

Om—!

Su Yan's Haki hammered her again. She crashed into a wall.

"You people will do anything for Laxus… I never thought you'd give your life just for this," Su Yan said, stopping in front of her. "If victory matters more to you than life itself, then I'll grant your wish."

"What—?!"

Su Yan raised his hand high. The aura of his Haki condensed into a massive axe overhead.

With a sweep of his arm, the huge axe came crashing down toward Evergreen, as though it might split the earth.

"I admit defeat!!"

Evergreen screamed. The giant axe halted just above her head.

Boom—!!

A massive crack split the wall behind her. Evergreen trembled from head to toe, her face pale, sweat pouring down. She was utterly terrified. Su Yan was too frightening.

Meanwhile, in the Fairy Tail guild…

"Whew!"

All the petrified girls suddenly returned to normal.

"Huh? What's going on?"

"Juvia's… Juvia's free?"

"Did something happen?"

Several of them, freshly released from stone, looked around in confusion.

On the large script display monitoring the event, text appeared:

[Su Yan vs. Evergreen]

[Winner: Su Yan]

Seeing this, Makarov breathed a sigh of relief. "Well done, Su Yan… that brat's never let anyone down. With the hostages freed, there's no need for this foolish game to continue."

At the Cardia Cathedral…

"Damn it!" Laxus slammed a fist into one of the pillars. He didn't really care that Evergreen lost to Su Yan. After all, Su Yan was the only one he himself needed to defeat. He'd known none of the Thunder God Tribe could stand up to Su Yan.

But Su Yan's victory came too soon. Laxus had wanted all of Fairy Tail to keep battling each other, until only he and Su Yan remained—then he'd crush Su Yan, proving himself the strongest wizard in Fairy Tail. Only then would all doubts vanish, and Fairy Tail would be the mightiest guild.

Freed approached. "Su Yan's strength is just too overwhelming. Evergreen was no match at all."

"Why are you back here, Freed?"

"Now that the hostages are released, those fights around town are pointless. Everyone can see there's no reason to continue."

Boom!!

A streak of lightning grazed Freed's side, tearing a gash in the floor.

"Laxus…" Freed stared at him in disbelief. He couldn't imagine why Laxus would do that.

Laxus's eyes were cold. "It's not over. If you don't want to follow me, then get lost. My Fairy Tail doesn't need you."

Back at the Fairy Tail guild…

"A free-for-all in Fairy Tail?" Lucy repeated in shock. She hadn't realized such chaos had erupted while she was petrified.

"Laxus did all this?" Cana was likewise stunned. Though she was only eighteen, she'd joined the guild at four or five years old, back when Laxus was a young teen. She'd known him for ages, and while he'd changed, she hadn't expected something this extreme.

Makarov sighed. "It's over now. With you all back to normal, there's no point in going along with Laxus's stupid game."

"But many of our guildmates got caught up in Freed's traps, and some were hurt in the process," another voice said.

"Exactly. Laxus can't just walk away from this without punishment!!"

Makarov bristled. "I know! I'll hand down the strictest punishment afterward—he won't get away lightly this time!"

Being guildmaster wasn't easy. Laxus was Makarov's grandson, and his only surviving family in the guild. Makarov was eighty-eight; he wanted Laxus by his side, if only to have someone to see him off in his final years. He'd admittedly spoiled Laxus, and when Laxus started acting out, Makarov had neglected to rein him in effectively.

Laxus had never done anything truly unforgivable before—just flung cruel words around—and Makarov thought scolding him was enough. He never dreamed Laxus would go this far.

This time, threatening his own guildmates' lives, Laxus had seriously crossed a line. Expelling him wouldn't be unreasonable. But as long as Laxus remained a Fairy Tail member, Makarov was willing to hand down any punishment short of banishment.

Even so, he couldn't let his personal feelings override everything. Otherwise, he might lose the guild entirely.