Bang!
A crisp sound rang out.
Just as Natsu was preparing to attack again, Ches got a step ahead, landing a lightning-fast Friendship Face-Breaking Punch directly on his face.
After letting out a cry of pain, Natsu was sent flying backward like a cannonball, crashing straight into the tavern table behind him.
Although Ches's main attack methods relied on Cards, as an S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail, his Magic Power was abundant and condensed, and his physical fitness was naturally not too weak.
On the other side, wood chips flew and dust billowed. Several people sitting at the tavern table drinking were caught in the crossfire, sent sprawling by Natsu's collision.
"You idiot who puts candles on birthday cakes, do you want to die?!"
Gray quickly got up, walked over with a displeased look, grabbed Natsu's collar, and pulled him up to his face.
Their foreheads were touching, and Natsu's face was covered in spit.
"Bastard pervert, you dare to say that too? You want to fight me, right?!"
Facing Gray's malicious taunt, Natsu naturally couldn't keep a pleasant expression. He stuck out his neck and confronted the other party head-on.
"If you're that weak, stop running over to make a fool of yourself. With your half-assed level, you still want to challenge Ches?"
"I'm giving that sentence right back to you! If you weren't getting in the way here, I would have already beaten Ches flying!"
"What did you say? You reckless bastard flame!"
"I said you're a coward who doesn't even dare to challenge Ches and just hides in the back trembling!"
"I can't pretend I didn't hear that..."
After a round of their usual enjoyable fisticuffs, Gray voluntarily withdrew from his daily brawl with Natsu, clenched his right fist, and walked confidently towards Ches.
"Next, open your eyes wide and watch carefully, see how I beat Ches..."
Halfway through his cool speech, Gray suddenly felt a chill run through his body.
He abruptly looked down, only to see that his clothes and pants, which should have been on him, had somehow inexplicably fallen onto the floor not far away at some point!
"Without me noticing, my clothes were removed? Damn it! When on earth..."
Gray's face was filled with disbelief. Completely disregarding his exposed body, he looked at Ches opposite him and exclaimed in surprise, "Hey! Ches! Just how much stronger have you gotten during the time you were away from the Guild?!"
Seeing such a bizarre scene, the little newbie Lucy blushed, quickly covering her face shyly.
"Ara ara."
Mira, standing in front of the bar, had a smile on her face. A flip-flop was hanging on her slightly tilted forehead.
That was equipment that burst off Natsu after he was beaten flying.
She was already used to this and calmly looked at Gray's well-defined backside, not as shy as Lucy.
The other people in the Guild were also like this, raising their hands to their foreheads with speechless expressions.
"Gray, although I have indeed gotten much stronger and can strip you clean in an instant, unfortunately, I don't have such a perverse hobby."
Ches rubbed his chin, glanced at Gray, and spoke up to remind him, "You took those off yourself."
"Eh?! I, I took them off myself?!"
Gray was greatly shocked, showing a bewildered expression of complete ignorance.
"Hey, perverted bastard, I suddenly have a pretty good suggestion."
Natsu slowly walked up to his side, the corners of his mouth lifting into his signature bright smile, "How about we team up and take on Ches together?"
"Team up with you, you idiot flame? Just thinking about it makes me sick."
Gray spat disdainfully, looked up at Ches, who had his arms crossed, and suddenly grinned.
"However, if the opponent is Ches, who's as strong as a monster, then that's not a bad idea!"
Just like that, the two who were like ice and fire reached an agreement. Shoulder to shoulder, they chuckled and advanced towards Ches.
And their team-up also gave hope to Macao and Kana, and the other members who had been mocked and accused earlier. They all jumped out in a rush.
"Hahaha! Don't blame us for ganging up on you! It's your fault for being too strong, Ches!"
"This time, I'm going to leave my flip-flop print on your face!"
"Manly!"
...
Nasty, ill-intentioned smiles appeared on everyone's faces. Various Magic circles lit up in their hands as they gradually closed in on Ches in a pincer movement.
Having been suppressed for a long time, they had long wanted to give this bastard in front of them a good beating!
"Oh? That's quite an impressive momentum. In that case, it should be alright if I get a little serious, right?"
Facing the aggressive Fairy Tail members, Ches's mouth curved upwards. Instead of advancing, he retreated, stomping his foot heavily.
"My turn, draw!"
He reached into the void, performing a sharp and cool Card-drawing motion.
A glittering Card drew a graceful arc through the air.
Buzz!!
Appearing along with the Card was an aura of terrifying pressure!
The suddenly bright red and black light filled the entire Guild. The lights intertwined, forming an ancient and mysterious Magic circle.
A phantom of a Magician wearing a black and purple Magician's robe and holding a staff slowly appeared beside Ches.
Lucy's pupils constricted. She raised her shocked gaze to look. From that flickering figure, she felt a vast Magic Power far beyond her understanding!
The inexperienced Fairy Tail newcomers were scared silly on the spot, huddled in a corner trembling.
Just as the Seven-Star Card, 【Black Magician】, was about to descend, a low shout interrupted the tense atmosphere.
"Stop it, Ches. This Guild building of ours can't withstand the torment of your magic."
The small-sized Makarov, wearing a top hat, stood on the second-floor railing, glancing indifferently at Ches.
"Oh, Guild Master, you were here too?" Ches feigned a surprised expression.
"Stop playing dumb over there! You bastard just want to tear this whole place down, right?!" Makarov cursed angrily.
No one understood Ches's way of doing things better than him, who had been dealing with the Council's complaints for years.
"Ahaha, you've misunderstood. How could I have such a dangerous thought?" Ches chuckled dryly and scratched his head.
At the same time, the Black Magician, which had not fully appeared, quickly dissipated, and the terrifying Magic Power covering the surroundings was lifted.
Makarov didn't reply, glancing with a deterrent look at Natsu and the others who were brimming with fighting spirit.
Only after they had all settled down did he look back at Ches, asking in a serious, deep voice:
"How did that ten-year task, which no challenger has been able to complete, go?"
Hearing this, Ches let out a long breath. Passing by Natsu and the others, he slowly walked up to Mira, who was standing at the bar.
Mira instantly understood his meaning. With her signature sweet smile on her face, she turned around and made a cup of coffee with sugar.
Ches took the coffee and took a small sip. The taste, a mix of sweetness and a hint of bitterness, flowed through his body.
Mmm, as expected, Mira-chan understands me~
After tasting the familiar flavor, Ches slowly put down the coffee in his hand, tilted his head back, smiled, and scratched his hair.
"Sorry, Guild Master, the ten-year task..."
"I failed."