harleyscars Chapter 77 Fried's Beliefs, the Embryo of the Thor Band~
Chapter 77 Fried's Beliefs, the Embryo of the Thor Band~
Chapter 77 Fried's Beliefs, the Embryo Formation of the Thor's Crew ~ (Part Two)
"Then let me see what your choice is."
Ivan sneered. He stood in front of the castle, showing no sign of leaving, seemingly waiting for Erza and the others to make their choice.
"Junior brother, wait for me, I'm coming to help you."
"Kana, don't be afraid, your big sister is here to help you."
Erza and Ultear, upon seeing Gray and Cana trapped by Ivan's magic, turned around and ran back without any hesitation.
"Father, why did you do this?"
Even Laxus stopped in his tracks, his eyes filled with deep disappointment as he looked at Ivan.
"What a pity~"
"You genius brats shouldn't be dragged down by those weaklings."
"You could have kept up with my pace and together built the strongest mage guild in history."
"However, since this is your choice, I respect it."
Ivan seemed to have seen through Erza, Ultear, and Laxus's choices. He shook his head in disappointment, his words filled with resentment.
"So goodbye, you brats!"
"You'll stay here and struggle alongside these weaklings, while I, this old man, successfully pass the test!"
'
"Hahaha~"
After seeing Erza and the others' choice, Ivan didn't linger. He turned around, pushed open one of the four gates in front of the castle, and strode in with his head held high. Before his figure completely disappeared from the castle, he didn't forget to mock Erza and the others.
"That wretched Ivan."
"We absolutely, positively will not let you get through!"
Erza and Ultear were almost laughing in exasperation at Ivan.
Yes, people can actually laugh when they're extremely angry.
"Tsk."
Even Laxus was somewhat annoyed by Ivan's behavior.
"Laxus, don't worry about me. Hurry up and go to the castle to choose a route. We absolutely can't let Ivan get the upper hand."
Even though Fried was bound by Ivan's paper dolls, he still cared about Laxus. He strained to stick his head out of the paper dolls and roared at Laxus, who was not far away.
Well, Fried doesn't want to hold Laxus back.
"boom!"
Laxus did not answer Freed's question, but instead unleashed astonishing magical power, transforming into a bolt of lightning that shot from the castle back to Freed's side. With a wave of his hand, the terrifying electric current pulverized all the paper figures surrounding Freed.
"Stop talking nonsense."
"Who do you think I am?"
"You think you can hold me back? Don't be ridiculous!"
As Laxus spoke, he lifted Fried with one hand and then flashed back to the castle.
"Laxus".
Fried seemed completely unprepared for the fact that Laxus would even put aside the S-rank mage exam for him, and he was moved to tears.
Well, what Laxus just said, after being translated by Freed's brain translator, became the following: "Freed, you are the teammate I, Laxus, chose! If I can't get through this with you, then this year's S-rank mage assessment will be meaningless."
The above content is completely consistent with what Laxus was thinking.
Yes, Fried is that powerful.
Although Laxus didn't say it, and Freed didn't hear it, he was able to understand Laxus's true thoughts deep inside.
Fried: "True love does not need to be expressed verbally, it does not need to be spoken! Because we unite our thoughts."
"That wretched Ivan."
As Laxus rescues Freed and they choose their route before arriving at the castle, Erza and Ultear also rescue Gray and Cana, who are bound by paper dolls.
"What are you standing there for? Come here now."
After rescuing Freed, Laxus did not choose a door in advance, but quietly waited for Erza and Ultear to arrive.
"Sure, Laxus."
"So you've actually learned to defer to ladies now?"
After Ultear and Kana finally arrived at the Ice Castle, she couldn't help but tease Laxus.
"Being modest?!"
"Don't joke around."
"I'm just afraid you'll start crying after you lose to me."
"If we enter the castle together, you won't have any excuses after you lose to me, right?"
Laxus sneered, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
"I'm sorry, Father."
"I must stop you from passing the S-rank Archmage exam."
Laxus turned around and looked at the massive castle that towered like Mount Everest in front of him, a resolute look in his eyes.
"It's decided. We only have one thing to do now, and that is to prevent Ivan from passing the test."
At this moment, Laxus, Erza, and Ultear reached a consensus: it didn't matter which of them passed the test; the important thing was to kick Ivan, that troublemaker, out of the test team first.
After the three Laxus members made their decision, they all went through the door in front of them.
"oh?!"
After Laxus pushed open the castle gates, he was greeted by an endless expanse of blue space.
"This place is huge, Laxus."
Fried followed closely behind Laxus, overwhelmed by the magnificent sight of the castle.
"Um."
Laxus nodded slightly. He didn't say much, and while leading Fried forward, he was also secretly on guard against the traps in the castle.
However, Laxus was clearly overthinking things. There were no traps in the castle, and he made his way to the so-called second level without any obstacles.
"Someone's there?!"
When Laxus pushed open the second door, he was greeted by another huge space.
This time, however, the space was not empty as before; someone was already there, quietly waiting for Laxus's arrival.
As Laxus discovered the man, the man also noticed Laxus's successful arrival.
Within the space, as the lights gradually illuminated, the two of them almost simultaneously saw each other's appearances clearly, and their pupils both trembled.
"Father?!"
Laxus exclaimed in surprise.
"Yo."
"You've come, my dear son."
The person who had been waiting for Laxus's arrival in the space smiled slightly, a hint of amusement in their eyes.
Yes, the person waiting for Laxus here was none other than Laxus's father, Ivan.
"Laxus, just give up."
"You should know just how powerful your father truly is."
"You are no match for your father now."
When Ivan discovered that his opponent was actually his own son, Laxus, he almost burst out laughing.
Ivan had been wondering what he should do if his opponent in this year's S-class mage assessment was one of Id, Gildarts, or Uru.
Now, his previously uneasy heart can finally settle down. It seems that even the heavens are looking out for him, matching him with the weakest opponent.
How will you know if you don't try?
Laxus was somewhat dissatisfied. He could be defeated by Ivan and lose the game, but he absolutely could not admit defeat himself.
Laxus never knows how to spell "I never admit defeat".
You'll regret it.
Ivan's face darkened. He felt that Laxus had challenged his authority as a father, and he wanted to teach Laxus a lesson.
"boom!!"
It was after Ivan made up his mind that the magic power within him erupted like a tidal wave.
"boom!"
Seeing this, Laxus also unleashed the magic within him, doing his best to resist the pressure Ivan was exerting.
Although Laxus was still somewhat inferior to Ivan in terms of magical power, resisting the pressure brought by Ivan's magical power was still a piece of cake.
"Waaah."
However, as Ivan and Laxus clashed with magic, the weaker Freed felt immense pressure. He felt as if a huge rock was pressing down on his chest, making it hard to breathe, so much so that he knelt down on one knee not far from the two.
"hehe."
"Not bad, Laxus."
"It seems you have indeed inherited Makarov's magical talent."
"The power of the Thunder Dragon Slayer Crystal is much more useful than I imagined."
Ivan seemed completely unaware that Laxus, at only fourteen years old, already possessed magical powers similar to his own.
If Laxus is given another year or two, he will probably be able to cross the threshold of the "Ten" and catch up with him.
At that time, he will probably have no say in the guild at all.
This made Ivan feel a sense of urgency. He glanced at Freed, who was struggling behind Laxus, and laughed, "Laxus, look back. Although you can resist your father's magic, your little brother is probably about to die."
"Um?!"
Laxus turned his head and saw Fried lying on the ground, pale-faced, his hands pressed against his chest, gasping for breath.
"Fried?!"
Upon seeing this, Laxus immediately wanted to return to Fried's side to help him resist the pressure from Ivan.
"Laxus, how dare you be distracted while fighting your father?"
Ivan seized upon Laxus's predicament of worrying about Freed and unleashed his long-charged explosive magic directly at Laxus's back.
"boom!!"
Amidst a blinding flash of flames, Laxus, caught off guard and forced to take Ivan's full-force attack, was sent flying backward like a broken doll.
"You're despicable!"
"You actually chose to launch a sneak attack?"
Fried witnessed this and roared at Ivan.
"A sneak attack?"
"That's called 'all's fair in war, kid.'"
Ivan sneered, looking at the fallen Laxus, and said coldly, "Savor your incompetence and defeat, Laxus!"
"Remember this, this is the last lesson I will teach you: the weak will only become stumbling blocks on your road to success."
After Ivan finished speaking, he continued walking towards the next checkpoint.
"Laxus, are you alright?"
"It's all my fault. I'm too weak and I dragged you down!"
"If I were any stronger—"
Fried helped Laxus up from the ground, his eyes filled with tears.
"It's not your fault, Fried."
"It's all because my cultivation is not yet up to par."
Laxus slowly shook his head, looking intently at Ivan's retreating figure, and said coldly, "I will remember today's humiliation, and then become stronger than anyone else."
"Um."
"I will also work hard to become stronger, and I will never be a burden to you again."
Freed sat beside Laxus, his eyes filled with unwavering determination. He was determined to form a special team to protect Laxus and become the strongest shield for him.
Thus, the prototype of the future famous "Thunder God Gang" began to take shape.
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