The lake exploded, sending up a massive spray of water that showered the surroundings. Jackal was drenched, but the water stopped before it could reach Takeshi's side.
"This guy..."
Jackal's expression was grim, and his palms were trembling uncontrollably. If he hadn't used his Curse to redirect the impact just now, things would have been bad.
"I can't let this guy keep attacking."
Jackal waved his hand.
Boom!
The ground beneath Takeshi's feet was blown, forming a spiral-shaped blast wave.
Bang!
A shockwave spread out from the center of the explosion, and Takeshi reappeared completely unscathed.
"You? How is this possible? Why weren't you injured by my explosion?"
"It's simple. Your explosion didn't hit."
"Impossible!"
"You don't believe me? Then reach out your hand."
Takeshi raised his palm. Sensing that Takeshi didn't seem to intend to move, Jackal brought his palm closer, while also preparing to launch a sneak attack.
Just as he was about to strike, he realized something was wrong. His palm stopped abruptly as it neared Takeshi's.
"What's going on?!"
"This is Infinity. As you get closer to me, your speed becomes slower and slower, until it's imperceptibly slow. So, while it looks like your attack hit me, there's actually an infinitely small distance between us—a chasm you can never cross." Takeshi gestured with his fingers.
Jackal's face suddenly became distorted as he roared, "I don't believe it!!!"
"A mere human dares to think he can surpass demons!"
Jackal's body began to swell, thick fur sprouting across his skin. In an instant, he transformed into a massive yellow wolf.
"W-What?!"
Michello and his granddaughter were both terrified by Jackal's transformation.
"Disappear!" Jackal roared, throwing a punch at Takeshi.
Takeshi stood still. Jackal's fist stopped twenty centimeters in front of his face. No matter how hard Jackal pushed, his fist remained motionless, unable to advance.
Boom!
A violent explosion erupted as Jackal activated his Curse.
After the explosion cleared, Takeshi was still standing there, completely unharmed.
"I told you, you can't touch me at all. If it weren't for the fact that I wasn't familiar with your Curse at first, you wouldn't even be able to scratch me."
"I don't believe it!!!"
Jackal roared and swung his fists at Takeshi repeatedly, but to no effect. Takeshi simply stood there, and Jackal's attacks could not reach him.
Boom... Boom...
Explosions erupted continuously as Jackal consumed a large amount of Curse Power.
Consequently, the surrounding ground was blasted beyond recognition, yet Takeshi remained unscathed.
"Who... who on earth are you?"
Jackal stared intently at Takeshi. As a demon from the Books of Zeref, he had never encountered such a terrifying opponent.
"As expected of Takeshi-san! He's amazing!"
Michelia already admired Takeshi, and now she began to cheer.
"Incredible! He really is the First Seat of the Ten Wizard Saints!"
Seeing Takeshi withstand so many of Jackal's attacks, Michello knew his life was saved and couldn't help but cheer as well.
"First Seat of the Ten Wizard Saints?!"
Jackal's expression changed upon hearing this. The Ten Wizard Saints were the ten strongest Mages on the continent of Ishgar, as designated by the Magic Council. Although he looked down on humans, he had to admit that the Ten Wizard Saints were the elite of the elite, each possessing formidable power.
And the young man before him was actually the First Seat of the Ten Wizard Saints.
"So you're the First Seat of the Ten Wizard Saints of Ishgar. It seems my loss wasn't in vain."
"But kid, don't think you've won yet. I'll take you down with me."
Magic fluctuations emanated from Jackal's body, and golden beams of light lit up across the town.
"What... what's happening?!"
"Quick! Kill him now!"
Terrified, Michello immediately urged Takeshi to finish Jackal off.
"It's useless. This is a self-destruction. You, this whole town, and everyone in it will die! And I will undergo rebirth!"
"Self-destruction?!"
Michello and Michelia were both frightened out of their wits.
"In my presence, you don't even have the right to choose self-destruction."
Takeshi crossed his right index and middle fingers.
Domain Expansion: Unlimited Void!
Takeshi expanded his domain. To Michello and Michelia, it looked like a black sphere centered on Takeshi rapidly expanding, stopping just before them.
"What is this?!"
Inside the Domain, Jackal felt an endless stream of information flooding into his mind, causing his curse, which was about to trigger self-destruction, to stop immediately.
"What happened? My Curse stopped? I can't see anything, I can't feel anything... No, I can see everything, I can feel everything. The information is endless, so I can't do anything."
Clap!
Takeshi placed his hand on Jackal. "This is the inner side of Limitless. 'Perception' and 'Transmission' force you to perform infinite operations just to complete the act of 'living.' It's ironic, isn't it? You've received everything but can do nothing, only slowly waiting for death. But you're still useful, so you get to live. If not for that, I would have killed you long ago."
Whoosh!
Takeshi deactivated the Domain, reappearing in the sight of Michello and Michelia.
"Takeshi-san!"
Michelia was overjoyed to see Takeshi reappear.
"Ta... Takeshi, what's wrong with this guy?"
Michello looked at Jackal lying on the ground with caution.
Takeshi calmly said, "It's nothing. I'm just letting him rest for a bit. He won't be able to move for a while."
"What? This guy isn't dead? What are you doing? Hurry up and kill him! Kill him! I command you to kill him!"
Hearing that Takeshi hadn't killed the demon, Michello immediately began jumping up and down in a frenzy.
"Shut up."
Takeshi's cold gaze swept over Michello, who immediately shut his mouth in fear. He remembered that he was no longer a Council Member who could command and mistreat guild Mages at will.
"I'm returning to the guild now. I'll give you two choices: one is to come with me back to Fairy Tail for protection, and the other is to run away on your own. However, I won't care what happens to you after that. Choose for yourself."
"I... I... I choose to go to Fairy Tail..."
Michello absolutely loathed Fairy Tail, they were always causing trouble and giving the Magic Council endless headaches. But at this moment, he had to bow his head. He had witnessed Jackal's strength firsthand. If he ran away and was found, there was no chance of survival. It was better to follow Takeshi. At least he was powerful, and those other guys were no match for him. He could distinguish which was more important: his life or his dignity.