"Fairy Tail is the strongest guild!"

"Bullshit! Phantom Lord is the strongest guild!"

"You're the one spouting nonsense! Phantom Lord is nothing!"

"Fine, fine! Seems like you've been arrogant for too long!"

By the time Marco's attention was drawn to the scene, Makarov and Jose were already locked in a heated argument.

Both were red-faced—partly from drinking too much, partly from genuine anger.

The tension between them had escalated into real hostility.

"What? What's going on?" Marco was utterly confused.

He quickly walked over.

"Hey, Marco! Are you really getting involved in a dispute between guild masters?" Bacchus called out to Marco, his face was full of surprise.

Given the situation, Bacchus didn't dare get any closer.

The magic power emanating from Master Makarov and Master Jose was overwhelming, their terrifying auras shaking everyone to the core.

Though Bacchus loved fighting strong opponents, he wasn't suicidal.

The "Ten Wizard Saints" were currently a realm far beyond his reach—he might not even survive the aftermath of their clash.

It was better to stay safely at a distance.

"Of course. That's my grandpa. How can I just stand by and do nothing?"

Leaving those words behind, Marco ignored Bacchus and pushed his way through the crowd surrounding Makarov and Jose.

"Master Jose, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Standing between the two, enduring the crushing pressure of their magic power, Marco narrowed his eyes and glared at Jose Porla, whose aura reeked of malevolence.

As one of the "Ten Wizard Saints," Jose Porla's magic power wasn't much weaker than Makarov's—at least on the surface, they seemed evenly matched.

But the impressions they gave were worlds apart.

Makarov's magic power was righteous, even radiating a golden glow.

Around Jose Porla, however, a sinister purple magic power swirled, exuding an aura of death.

Mages with insufficient strength would feel nauseated just standing near him.

"Scram! A wet-behind-the-ears mutt like you shouldn't be barking here!"

Jose shot Marco a disdainful glance and cursed him outright.

He had always despised Fairy Tail's so-called "genius," especially since Marco was Makarov's grandson.

"What a psycho!" Marco's expression darkened instantly.

This guy really had no shame—no wonder he looked like so ugly!

Marco felt he had been fairly polite earlier, showing no disrespect.

Yet Jose Porla had immediately resorted to insults, completely disregarding decency or honor.

"A Wizard Saint in his prime at thirty-something years old, picking fights with an eighty-year-old senior above him and cursing a ten-year-old kid below him. Master Jose, you're truly shameless!"

Marco didn't hold back.

Unfazed by Jose Porla's status or power, he went straight for the jugular.

Lies don't hurt—truth cuts like a knife.

Jose Porla's foul mouth was nothing more than baseless nonsense, while Marco's words struck like a sharp knife straight to the heart.

"Honestly, this is too much. That bastard Jose, just because he's in his prime, bullies the old and picks on the kid. Isn't this just pure bullying?"

"Old friend, you don't actually think Jose could beat old man Makarov, do you? I'm afraid the old man would beat the crap out of him!"

"Jose has always been like this—looking down his nose at everyone. He deserves a lesson from Makarov!"

"That kid's got guts, daring to stand up to Jose like that. Even I felt the pressure just standing near Jose, yet this kid isn't scared at all. Truly, heroes emerge from the young!"

"Or maybe you're just too weak?"

"You looking for a fight too?!"

The guild masters gathered around chattered away, not sparing Jose any face at all.

Very few seemed to side with him, and it was clear most didn't get along with him.

"You little bastard! Do you want to die?!" Jose Porla was seething.

For one, his actions were indeed shameful and the mocking from the surrounding guild masters made his blood boil.

He could no longer hold back.

Most importantly, most people actually believed he couldn't beat Makarov and that was the most unbearable thing for him!

Bzzzt!

Jose Porla raised his hand, five fingers glowing with a dark purple light, the aura of his terrifying dark magic was thick and oppressive.

Five purple magic bullets shot towards Marco at an astonishing speed.

But before they could hit him, Makarov had already stepped in front of Marco.

Bzzzt!

A golden magic circle unfolded, effortlessly absorbing the dark magic bullets.

"JOSEEE!!! Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson!" Makarov lifted his head, glaring at Jose with a terrifyingly fierce expression.

Jose Porla's attack on Marco had crossed a line for the old man.

From this moment on, this was no longer just a clash of egos!

BZZZZT!!!

A terrifying surge of magic power erupted from Makarov, the sheer pressure of his overflowing power forcing the surrounding guild masters to stagger back, their faces filled with awe for the sheer strength before them.

"Makarov! Calm down!" Goldmine shouted urgently at Makarov.

This venue really couldn't handle Makarov's rampage!

Goldmine knew full well just how powerful the old man was—destroying this place would take him no effort at all!

"Don't fight here! If you're going to fight, take it outside!" Bob chimed in, trying to mediate.

He could see that things had escalated beyond words—only a fight would settle this now.

But if two of the Ten Wizard Saints were going to clash, they'd better do it somewhere else.

Otherwise, this venue would be reduced to rubble in minutes.

"You old bastard! Today, I'll see for myself just how strong you really are! Let's see if you old farts clinging to your titles still deserve them!"

Jose Porla completely ignored Goldmine and Bob's words, his face twisted with excitement as he stared at Makarov.

To be honest, Jose had been waiting for this day for a very long time!

Today, he would openly defeat Makarov in front of everyone!

He would declare that Phantom Lord would reclaim the title of the strongest, and that so-called "Fairy Tail" was nothing but a bunch of flies—flies who didnt deserve the top spot!

"Youngsters these days won't learn their place until they get a beating."

Makarov's face darkened as he spoke slowly, his expression fierce.

Whenever someone laid a hand on the children of his guild, this terrifyingly violent side of him would emerge.

'BOOM!!!'

'CRACK! CRACK!'

As Makarov's fury surged, the ground began to shake and split.

The entire guild meeting hall trembled violently, tables and chairs rattling incessantly.

Glassware and windows shattered outright under the overwhelming waves of his magic power.

The venue for the regular meeting was jointly funded by all the guilds participating in the regional alliance, and the expenses for each meeting were also shared among the attendees.

But now, the cost of repairing this destruction wouldn't be split—it would all fall on Makarov's shoulders, all to be paid by Fairy Tail, since he was the one who caused the damage.

However, there was a way for Fairy Tail to avoid footing the bill: beat Jose to a pulp and demand that Phantom Lord pay for the reconstruction.

The battle between Makarov and Jose was imminent, but at this moment, Marco found himself distracted by the system.

[Ding! Mission triggered!]

[Mission Name: "Attack of the Ten Wizard Saints!"]

Mission Description:

Jose Porla, one of the Ten Wizard Saints and the guild master of Phantom Lord, is Fairy Tail's sworn enemy.

At the guild masters' meeting, he provoked Makarov and you, insulting the Fairy Tail Guild. He must be taught a lesson!

Mission Progress: Defeat Jose Porla (Incomplete)

[Mission Reward: Random Gold Saint skill.]

Reading the mission details, Marco was baffled.

'Huh? Me? Fight a Ten Wizard Saint?'

Looking at Makarov and Jose across from him, Marco couldn't help but gulp.

Though he had always been confident in his strength and even more so in his future potential, his training was still a work in progress.

Punching the sky and shattering the earth with a kick would be child's play—but not yet!

Right now, Marco had only established connections with three constellations, and the only skill close to reaching intermediate level was "Pegasus Meteor Fist."

Taking on a Ten Wizard Saint at this stage was downright absurd—those guys were no pushovers!

Under Marco's watchful gaze, Makarov swung his palm, his arm rapidly expanding until it completely engulfed Jose.

Jose's figure vanished instantly, reappearing some distance away as if he had teleported.

"BOOM!"

Makarov's palm slammed into the ground, shaking the entire building.

The force of the blow nearly shattered the foundation—and this was him holding back, or rather, not even going all out yet.

--------------------------------

Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.

patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator