"Ian..."
"This meteorite... It's even bigger than Tenrou Island! What on earth is that?!"
Makarov stared at Ian from a distance, his face twisted in despair as he yelled.
"It's over! Gildarts..."
Unfortunately, Ian couldn't hear Makarov at all at that moment.
His eyes were fixed on Gildarts, standing not far away, as he silently awaited his next move.
Ian didn't think for a second that his move—Heavenly Obstruction Star—was enough to defeat a monster like Gildarts. The move was a stronger version of True Heavenly Body Magic: Star Collapse, but he knew it wasn't going to crush Gildarts.
For someone like Gildarts, this attack was just an appetizer.
"Ian, you're really proving an old saying true," Gildarts said.
"After three days apart, one should look at a person anew!"
"You've gone from being an ordinary person to this level of a mage in just four short years? Remarkable!"
"But I'm not weak either."
With those words, Gildarts stomped on the ground beneath him.
"BOOM!"
With a roar, the ground beneath Gildarts erupted and shattered into countless pieces. Using the force of the explosion, Gildarts propelled himself skyward, charging straight toward the meteorite.
"What?!"
Even Ian's jaw dropped at this sight. He looked up, watching Gildarts charge towards the enormous asteroid, his lips dry, unable to utter a word.
Honestly, it was quite a sight.
"Break!"
Before Ian could think any further, Gildarts had already ascended into the sky. He focused all his magic into his fist and delivered a punch at the asteroid. The sheer power behind it shattered the surrounding air into particles.
"BOOM!!"
The asteroid that had approached with great momentum shattered into countless fragments, turning into a meteor shower raining down on the ocean below.
"Are you serious? One Punch Man?!"
"Old man, did you wander into the wrong story?"
Ian looked at the asteroid he had painstakingly summoned, now obliterated by a single punch from Gildarts, sweat beading on his forehead as he let out a helpless complaint.
"WHOOSH..."
"BOOM!!"
As soon as Ian finished complaining, Gildarts descended from the sky, landing hard and kicking up a storm of sand and debris.
"SPLASH..."
Behind Gildarts...
The fragments from the shattered meteorite fell into the sea, sending massive waves soaring into the air!
Fortunately, Tenrou Island had a massive wall of trees created by Warrod, preventing any further damage from the meteor shower.
"Ian, I hope this isn't all you've got?!"
"If this is your limit, then I'm afraid I'll be claiming the title of strongest mage in Fairy Tail..."
Standing firmly on the ground, Gildarts looked at Ian with a teasing glint in his eyes, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
"You really leave me no choice."
Ian sighed as he looked at Gildarts.
He knew that Gildarts was taunting him, trying to push him to use "that move!"
And it had worked.
"Eresh..." Ian turned his head to look at Eresh standing a short distance away, curiosity in his eyes as he asked, "Are you sure the magic circle you mentioned will work?"
"Rest assured, Father..."
"Mother's magic circle works without a doubt."
Eresh nodded vigorously, knowing that it was finally her time to shine.
"Then activate the circle!"
"Let me have a proper fight with Gildarts."
Ian turned to Gildarts, his voice cold.
"Understood."
Eresh nodded firmly and took out a magic crystal, which glowed faintly with golden light.
"Isolation Barrier, activate!"
With those words, Eresh crushed the crystal in her hand.
"Buzz!"
Suddenly, the bright world seemed to be stained black.
In the blink of an eye, it was noon that turned into midnight.
The sun hanging in the sky had transformed into a bright full moon, radiating soft light that seemed to soothe everyone's weary hearts.
"BOOM!"
But just as quickly as it had appeared, the moonlight vanished.
In the blink of an eye, the sky and earth returned to their previous state, and the sun once again blazed high above.
"Did anyone else notice something strange?"
"I swear, it suddenly went dark and the moon came out!"
"But when I blinked, it was all gone."
Natsu rubbed his eyes, bewildered by what had just happened.
"It wasn't an illusion!"
"The moon really did appear for a moment and then just disappeared..."
"Incredible!"
Gray shook his head, equally stunned by what he had seen.
The power to alter the heavens itself went beyond the realm of mere mortals, more like the manifestation of divine power...
"Is this the power of the Dragon God?"
"Power this immense... beyond that of humanity."
Makarov's expression was serious. Just thinking about having to deal with an opponent of this magnitude made his head ache.
"Father, I've successfully set up the isolation field. The entire Tenrou Island is now covered within it. Acnologia will not be able to detect us, so feel free to unleash your full power."
With cupped hands around her mouth, Eresh shouted to Ian from a distance.
"Got it."
After receiving Eresh's confirmation, Ian turned back, making an "OK" gesture to everyone watching from afar.
Then, he turned back to face Gildarts and said with a smile, "Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No worries, good things take time. I'm in no rush."
Gildarts shrugged, unconcerned.
To be honest, Gildarts never cared much about being the strongest in Fairy Tail. He was simply curious to see just how powerful Ian could be at full force.
As for Ian, he was just indulging Gildarts' curiosity.
"Natsu, Laxus..."
Suddenly, Ian called out to Natsu and Laxus from among the crowd.
"What is it?!"
Laxus looked bewildered, clearly unsure of Ian's intent.
"Huh?"
Natsu, too, looked blankly at Ian.
"You two, keep your eyes open wide..."
"I'll show you what the true power of a dragon is."
As Ian said this, the nature of the magic within his body changed instantly...
Not only did his magic power shift...
Even his appearance underwent a dramatic transformation!
The short, jet-black hair that once adorned his head suddenly grew longer and turned white!
His skin was instantly covered with countless transparent, crystalline scales.
His arms transformed into what looked like dragon-like claws.
His eyes flickered with a bestial ferocity, giving him a sinister, otherworldly appearance that defied all human norms.
In this state, Ian was no longer a mage...
He resembled more of a human-shaped dragon, exuding an aura of extreme power.
"Is Ian a Dragon Slayer too?!"
Natsu had never imagined that Ian, who had always displayed himself as a Gravity Mage and Heavenly Body Mage, was also a Dragon Slayer.
"Ian's power is incredible!"
"It surpasses all Dragon Slayer Mages I've known!"
Laxus was drenched in sweat. The closer he got to reaching the level of a "Saint," the more he could feel the terrifying power emanating from Ian's every move.
The overwhelming sense of pressure, and the direct threat to his very soul, was something that no other mage could match.
It was a raw, overwhelming strength.
Meanwhile...
"Hoo..."
Ian exhaled slowly as he unleashed his Dragon Force...
Just like in the original story, whenever Natsu, Wendy, Rogue, Sting, and others activated their Dragon Force, whether intentionally or unintentionally, all of their attributes received a significant boost.
In Dragon Force mode, Ian, too, had undergone a massive surge in power.
The increase was so substantial that Ian had entered an entirely different tier.
His strength, speed, and destructive power had gone from being slightly stronger than Warrod and others to reaching the level of the Spriggan 12.
In simpler terms...
If Ian's strength was comparable to God Serena's thirteen years from now before he activated Dragon Force...
Then after activating Dragon Force—and unlike Sting and Rogue's incomplete versions, having accessed the real deal—
His power had risen to a level on par with God Serena when he chose to defect from Ishgar and join the Alvarez Empire in the West.
To put it plainly, the difference was as stark as day and night.
"Gildarts, are you ready?"
Having adapted to his newly strengthened power, Ian looked towards Gildarts with a cold smile.
"I've been waiting impatiently."
Gildarts smiled as he extended a finger, beckoning Ian to come.
"Here I come..."
With that, Ian moved.
"BOOM!"
In an instant, Ian disappeared from where he stood, leaving behind a massive pit as the once-flat ground was uplifted by tens of meters. It was a testament to Ian's incredible speed and the sheer power in his legs.
"Oh..."
Gildarts' eyes darted around. His senses had long surpassed ordinary limits, and even as Ian sped toward him like a gust of wind, moving faster than sound itself, he could still keep track.
Others weren't as fortunate.
"Sister, can you see anything?"
Elfman, his forehead beaded with sweat, asked Mirajane standing next to him.
"Shut up!"
"Open your eyes and watch closely..."
But Mirajane, like Elfman, couldn't see a thing.
"Take Over: Demon Soul!"
As she spoke, Mirajane activated her full Take Over magic, transforming into her demon form—Mirajane Seilah.
"Now I can see a bit better."
In this state, Mirajane could barely discern a shadow flashing back and forth in the distant air.
Even in her demon form, she couldn't fully capture Ian's movements. It wouldn't have mattered if the original demon Seilah herself were present; she still wouldn't be able to keep up with Ian's speed.
"There you are!"
As for Gildarts, his eyes seemed to catch something, and he threw out a Crush spell into an apparently empty space.
"BOOM!!"
The earth shattered, the air disintegrated...
Countless trees were reduced to splinters by Gildarts' magic, the nearby mountain and even parts of the ocean breaking apart under the force.
"RUMBLE..."
Ian, whom Gildarts targeted with his magic, was now confined to a corner of Tenrou Island.
"So that's what you're up to?"
"Using a wide-area Crush spell to flush me out?"
"Heh! As far as I know, you're the only pure human mage in all of Ishgar who can use an Ultimate Magic as a basic spell! You really are a monster."
Ian sighed helplessly.
"Not at all..."
Gildarts smiled, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.
"But since it's like this..."
"I'll start attacking too."
"Celestial Dragon Roar!!!"
Standing firm, Ian took a deep breath and unleashed a roar at Gildarts. In an instant, a purple dragonhead magic circle appeared in front of him, sending beams of searing energy towards Gildarts.
"Celestial Dragon?"
Without hesitation, Gildarts used Crush again, blocking Ian's roar.
He muttered to himself, "No wonder the Moon Dragon Selene is drawn to you! You two are indeed a match."
"Red Mars! Flaming Destruction!"
As Gildarts pieced together Ian's origins, Ian altered his magic circle, shifting it from purple to a deep crimson before unleashing an overwhelming flame.
"Flames?"
Gildarts hastily shattered the ground beneath him, trying to create more room to maneuver.
"Mercury! Tide Surge!"
Ian spoke once again, changing the magic circle's color and magic attribute, unleashing a flood of fresh water that engulfed Gildarts.
"GURGLE..."
Gildarts' brows furrowed, but his expression remained calm.
"Jupiter! Forest's Embrace!"
Continuing his display, Ian slammed his palms together, instantly turning the entirety of Tenrou Island into a sea of trees.
"Uh..."
"Perhaps Ian is the strongest Nature Attribute Mage in Ishgar."
Warrod Sequen's face was full of astonishment. The nature magic he had spent a lifetime mastering had been surpassed so effortlessly by Ian.
"Saturn! Sacred Wall!"
Ian knelt and touched the earth, lifting his hands to create an immense wall that was fifty meters wide, five hundred meters tall, and still growing.
Even the Wall of Maria from "Attack on Titan" would have paled before it. Not even the Colossal Titan could peek over its height.
"Venus! Tremor of the Mountains, Star's Flame!"
Standing atop the enormous wall, Ian unleashed a blinding star's light.
"BOOM!!"
In that moment, a quarter of Tenrou Island was vaporized, and that wasn't all. The beam split the ocean and extended far into the distance, leaving a rift in the sea that refused to close.
"PHEW PHEW PHEW!"
In the next second, the aftermath of the attack surged like a tidal wave, slamming against Tenrou Island and shattering Ian's massive wall, the debris filling the newly formed void.
"BOOM!"
Ian descended, his hand pressing into the ground. He activated the wood attribute magic again, creating enormous trees that covered the rocky terrain, making it appear as if Fairy Tail's sacred Tenrou Island had never been destroyed.
"Ah..."
Looking at Ian's barrage of multi-attribute Dragon Slayer magic, everyone from Fairy Tail was left numb, their minds unable to process it all. They were left speechless.
As for Ian, who had altered the island's very landscape, he silently watched the distant clouds of smoke, cautiously awaiting his opponent's next move.
Yes, Ian's abilities as the Celestial Dragon allowed him to use multiple forms of Dragon Slayer magic.
These attributes corresponded to the so-called Five God Dragons—six, if one included the Moon, granting him wood, fire, earth, metal, water, and moon attributes…
This was why, in the simulation timeline, Ian could easily defeat young dragons. The Five Dragon Gods' attributes couldn't harm him.
"BOOM!!"
Suddenly, from the ruins that Ian had made a part of Tenrou Island, a violent quake erupted.
The boulders shattered, and Gildarts slowly emerged, one step at a time, standing once again in front of Ian.
"Did you enjoy that, Ian?"
Gildarts' forehead bore a bloody gash. He admitted that he had underestimated Ian, taking all five consecutive attacks without moving an inch.
"What a monster."
Ian's eyes twitched slightly. He had known that Gildarts was strong...
After all, Gildarts had survived an encounter with Acnologia in his dragon form. Even God Serena, who held the title of "Saint of the West," was easily slapped to death by a human-formed Acnologia.
But what surprised Ian most was...
After taking so many Ultimate Magic attacks head-on, Gildarts only suffered such minor injuries. It was incredible.
This was the same Gildarts who, at his peak, could trade blows with August, the King of Magic.
"You call me a monster after this?"
"Seriously, Ian..."
Gildarts twitched. Before today, he couldn't even remember the last time he had been wounded in a battle.
Was it when people hailed him as the strongest in Western Ishgar?
Or when he was lauded as the strongest in all of Ishgar?
He couldn't remember, nor did it matter.
What mattered was that he hadn't felt this excited in a long time.
"Ian!!"
Gildarts roared Ian's name as he charged forward.
"GILDARTS!!!"
Ian's heart was stirred by Gildarts' energy. With a near roar, he shouted Gildarts' name and rushed toward him.
"BOOM!"
Their fists collided violently.
The resulting shockwave and air currents radiated from the point of contact, clearing the surrounding air and forming a vacuum.
When all the Ultimate Magic had been exhausted...
The battle between Ian and Gildarts returned to the most primitive form of combat between men—a pure exchange of blows, fists to flesh.
Yes, even when their magic was depleted, they still had iron fists to keep fighting.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
One punch after another, fresh blood splattered across the ground.
Both men's bodies were covered in injuries, yet neither retreated. They seemed to have a mutual understanding—no grappling or clinching, just raw, unrestrained blows.
"Ian..."
"Gildarts..."
This pure battle captivated everyone present.
Their daughters, Erza, Eresh, and Cana, held hands tightly as they watched, their eyes filled with worry, and tears beginning to brim.
Elsewhere...
In the Fairy Tail guild hall...
"Don't lose, Ian..."
"I bet my entire fortune on you! Keep fighting!"
"Gildarts, if you're still a man, take Ian down!"
The guild members watching and betting as always—some rooting for Ian, some for Gildarts—weren't interested in choosing sides, but rather had their wealth on the line.
"BUZZ!"
Just as Ian and Gildarts were on the verge of deciding a winner...
The image displayed on the crystal ball in the guild hall suddenly vanished.
"What's happening?"
"Hey, come on, where's the picture?!"
"It's the climax!"
The Fairy Tail members erupted in complaint.
"Sorry, everyone, the free preview is over. What comes next is paid content."
While the crowd was puzzled, Warren's voice rang out from the crystal ball.
"Warren! Damn you!"
"Warren, you'd better not come back to the guild!"
"I swear I'll beat you to a pulp..."
The guild hall was instantly in an uproar.
Warren, tears streaming down his face, said, "Sorry, but I lost a lot of money betting on the S-Class Trials, and I need to earn it back somehow!"
Yes, Warren, the unlucky guy, had bet on Laxus and Ur.
Meanwhile...
Ian and Gildarts finally reached a conclusion.
In the "arena," both Ian and Gildarts had stopped swinging their fists, their spirits and strength both exhausted...
"Who will win?!"
Outside the arena, Laxus, Natsu, Gray, Cana, Erza, Eresh—even Makarov—held their breath, eyes fixed on Ian and Gildarts.
"THUD!"
The next moment, they heard a loud crash, as Ian could no longer hold on, collapsing heavily to the ground.
"He won!"
Cana's face broke into a wide smile, like a blooming peony in spring.
"I lost."
"You win, Ian!"
Just as Cana was about to rush forward to embrace Gildarts, she saw him smile, content, as he fell heavily backward.
"Gildarts!"
Cana's smile vanished, replaced with worry.
"Father won!"
Erza and Eresh were all smiles now, no longer concerned.
"How is this a win?"
"Gildarts, you still have magic left, don't you?!"
Lying on the ground, Ian looked up at the sky and muttered.
Though he wasn't sure how much magic Gildarts still had, he could tell the man had held back during their fight.
Moreover, Gildarts, not even a Dragon Slayer, had managed to pummel him—an activated Dragon Force Dragon Slayer—into a corner. Gildarts had almost flattened him.
If Gildarts had also mastered Dragon Slayer Magic, what would have happened then?
He'd probably be the actual One Punch Man.
"You really are a monster."
Ian muttered quietly.
---
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Bonus chap for 400 power stones! thank you everyone really didn't think we would reach it this quickly XD