Chapter 134: The Magic Council Destroyed (Patreon)

"BOOM!"

"BOOM!"

Slash after slash rained down indiscriminately from above the Magic Council.

Makarov swung his right hand, and surging magical power erupted from his five fingertips, transforming into five writhing serpents that tore wildly through the air, shattering the terrifying ten-meter-long slashes one after another.

But prolonged defense inevitably fails.

Whenever Makarov raised his hand, Hughes would flick his legs, sending several slashes through the gaps in Makarov's defenses, striking the magnificent buildings below.

"CRASH!"

"CRASH!"

In no time, the ground where they fought was shattered into strips. The buildings, each with their own special significance, crumbled into pieces and collapsed.

Even the giant peak that supported the Magic Council shook, sending rocks tumbling and trees toppling, as if the mountains were collapsing and the earth itself was splitting apart.

Makarov gave Hughes a deep look. This kid's rate of growth was truly terrifying. It had only been a few days since they last met, yet Hughes could already keep up with him for this long. If he added his flame abilities on top of that...

If he wanted to beat some sense into Hughes, he'd better do it now. If Hughes kept evolving at this pace, within a year or two, suppressing him so easily would no longer be possible.

Seeing Hughes still swinging his legs and creating more slashes, Makarov simply enveloped his entire body in surging magical power, allowing the hail of slashes to strike him.

Enough defending. Since Crawford Seam and the others had already escaped, he had nothing left to worry about.

With that decision made, Makarov stomped the ground and leaped into the air. The entire Magic Council shook violently from the force of that single step, and a two-meter-wide crack split open across the ground.

Hughes looked up. Makarov's massive body, rivaling the entire Magic Council in size, was plummeting rapidly.

Halfway down, golden light flared across his body. Suddenly, he threw both arms wide and spun like a top, sky-reaching magical power pouring out in every direction as he rotated.

In an instant, magic starlight blotted out the sky. It scattered and condensed at the same time before colliding with the countless transparent slashes Hughes had created, annihilating each other completely.

At that moment, it was like a grand fireworks display above the Magic Council, the explosions deafening.

"BOOM!"

Makarov's massive body crashed to the ground, sending waist-high clouds of dust into the air as glittering motes drifted above his head.

His lantern-sized eyes glanced at Hughes. A chilling grin spread across his face as he provocatively beckoned with a finger.

Hughes clicked his tongue. The old man really had plenty of tricks.

"Kid, weren't you acting pretty arrogant? Let's see what other tricks you've got!"

With that, Makarov strode forward, charging straight at Hughes at incredible speed.

The mountain-sized Makarov appeared before him in an instant, a sky-covering hand sweeping toward him like a giant fan.

Hughes didn't even dare think about blocking. He immediately used Shave to move outside Makarov's attack range.

"WHOOSH!"

Makarov's giant hand swept past Hughes, compressing the air into a deep rumble. The oncoming blast of wind pressure slammed into Hughes's face, making his cheeks twitch.

Seeing Hughes dodge his slap, Makarov used the momentum to reverse his hand. The back of his hand tore through the air, catching Hughes before he had time to react and sending him flying.

"BOOM!"

Like being struck by a massive boulder, Hughes crashed through five or six buildings before becoming imprinted into the cliff face.

"Cough, cough. No wonder the old man can wrestle with the Black Dragon. That strength is absolutely monstrous!" Hughes grimaced, his limbs spread out as he remained imprinted in the cliff face.

This eighty-year-old was monstrously strong.

He had activated both Armament Haki and Tekkai, yet a single punch from Makarov still left his internal organs throbbing with pain.

"Kid, don't underestimate an old man!" Makarov rumbled before clenching his fist and striding toward Hughes.

If Hughes still dared to resist, he'd send this brat flying with one punch, then secretly drag him back to the guild.

Hughes didn't have time to answer Makarov. He was busy using Life Return to heal his injuries.

As Makarov's heavy footsteps drew near, Hughes suddenly opened his eyes. Turning into a streak of black light, he broke free from the cliff face. Raising his hardened fist, packed with overwhelming force capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, he slammed it into Makarov's abdomen.

"BOOM!"

Caught completely off guard, Makarov's eyes went wide. His entire body curled like a shrimp as his Magic Council-sized frame was blasted backward through several already-ruined buildings before crashing to the ground with a thunderous boom, sending up billowing dust.

"Old man, my fists pack quite a punch too!" Hughes sneered as he watched Makarov slowly rise.

Standing up, Makarov clutched his stomach and coughed twice. He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva while his bright eyes burned as they locked onto Hughes, as though he wanted to devour him alive.

Terrifying magical power erupted from Makarov once more, blowing away the surrounding dust.

Suddenly, a sky-covering fist wrapped in thick golden magical power appeared before Hughes. Already prepared, Hughes stomped the ground over a dozen times in rapid succession, instantly vanishing before reappearing behind the giant Makarov.

His powerful legs aimed at Makarov's waist before kicking out with all their might.

Makarov reacted instantly. His left arm, which had remained ready for defense, bent to block the devastating kick.

Taking advantage of Hughes's momentary loss of momentum, Makarov immediately drove his left arm forward, knocking Hughes away, while his right fist followed up without pause.

"BOOM!" Hughes was sent flying once again, soaring backward over a hundred meters before crashing through the only remaining building of the Magic Council.

"Damn it!" Hughes spat out two mouthfuls of blood as he lay among the ruins.

The gap in combat experience was simply too great. The old man knew his intentions inside out and could tell exactly where Hughes was going to attack.

What's more, Makarov fought using only the simplest techniques: punches and palm strikes. There wasn't a single flashy move. Observation Haki couldn't help Hughes predict or evade attacks that were so direct and efficient.

Suddenly, the system notification interrupted his frustration.

[Detected that the sixth sub-mission of "Pirate Journey," "Destroy the East Blue Marine Base," has been completed. The epic mission chain "Pirate Journey" has officially been activated.]

[Note: Since the rewards for this mission chain are determined by the total number of completed sub-missions, there is no need to manually accept it.

Complete 1 sub-mission: Physical Attributes Enhancement ×1

Complete 2 sub-missions: Major Physical Attributes Enhancement ×1

Complete 3 sub-missions: Unlock Additional Devil Fruit Slot...]

[Friendly Reminder: The target of the first sub-mission, "Lord of the Coast," has appeared.]

Ignoring Makarov, who was steadily approaching him, Hughes quickly opened the translucent panel, his eyes fixed on the words "Unlock Additional Devil Fruit Slot."

He knew exactly what that reward meant. With it, he would be able to wield a second Devil Fruit.

He only needed to complete three sub-missions to earn it. Hughes licked his dry lips. He had already completed one, and the "Lord of the Coast" was almost certainly that person.

Just one more. Only one more...

At that moment, Makarov, his aura soaring to the heavens, stopped ten meters away from Hughes and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"One last move. If you lose, you'll give up any thoughts of killing Crawford Seam and the others."