Just as the violent lightning was about to engulf Gajeel, a wall of ice appeared out of thin air, stretching between the two.
The yellow lightning fiercely struck the Ice Wall, emitting a harsh crackling sound. Large amounts of steam and shattered ice splashed around, covering the ground with a thin layer of frost.
However, the seemingly fragile Ice Wall was indestructible. No matter how the lightning raged, it could not penetrate even slightly.
When the lightning dissipated, everyone looked on in astonishment, seeing a figure lightly floating down from the top of the large tree in the park, finally standing steadily on the top of the Ice Wall.
The person who had arrived was Ryoma. The usual lazy expression on his face was replaced by a trace of rare seriousness.
When Laxus saw Ryoma suddenly appear, a strong sense of displeasure was added to his volatile emotions.
"Oh? Did an interfering busybody show up?" He let out a disdainful cold snort. "Do you think you can protect him, Ryoma?"
Ryoma leaped down from the Ice Wall, which then dissolved into countless specks of light and vanished into the air. He calmly watched the man in front of him, who exuded a dangerous aura.
"Long time no see, Laxus."
Ryoma's voice was flat, devoid of emotional fluctuation. "Have you fallen so low that you're starting to bully newcomers now?"
'His temper is still terrible, he hasn't improved at all.' Ryoma silently grumbled this thought internally.
Laxus's eyebrow twitched, clearly provoked by the word "bully."
Ryoma did not give him a chance to erupt and continued speaking calmly, "Furthermore, I am not protecting one specific person."
He paused, then changed his tone, cutting straight to the core of the issue, "Gajeel is now a Mage of Fairy Tail. As long as he hasn't done anything to harm the guild's interests, he is our comrade. This was a decision made personally by Master, and it's not your place to overturn it using private punishment."
Although Ryoma's tone was gentle, every word was like a needle accurately piercing Laxus's arrogant self-esteem.
"If you have an objection, you can go speak to the old man face-to-face. Bullying someone here who isn't fighting back is hardly the behavior of a strong person."
This sentence completely ignited Laxus's fury.
"Shut up!"
Laxus roared furiously, veins bulging on his face.
Golden-yellow lightning wildly surged around him, emitting crackling sounds and scorching the ground black.
In Laxus's view, Ryoma, like Makarov, was engaging in favoritism, and this behavior itself was a defilement of the name Fairy Tail.
"It's that old man again. It's because of his naive ideas that Fairy Tail is looked down upon."
Jet and Droy were somewhat surprised by Laxus's outburst.
"Stop it, Laxus!"
"Enough! This is too much!"
Jet shouted bravely, attempting to prevent the situation from escalating further. However, the completely enraged Laxus was in no state to listen to any advice.
He suddenly turned his head, casting his malicious gaze toward Jet and the other two, and waved his hand in annoyance. A thick bolt of lightning shot out from his hand, heading towards Jet, Droy, and Levy, who was hiding behind them.
"Hah, and there are weaklings like you still around."
At this moment, Ryoma's expression completely chilled.
'What a hopeless bastard.'
Just an instant before the lightning was about to hit the three people, Ryoma's figure vanished from his spot without warning.
In the next instant, he had appeared in front of Levy and the others. An Ice Shield instantly materialized before him, firmly blocking the violent lightning strike. The lightning exploded on the Ice Shield, and the scattered current filled the air with a burnt smell.
Ryoma slowly lowered his arm, and visible, chilling cold air began to swirl around him. The temperature in the park plummeted instantly.
He turned his head, his previously calm eyes now deep and icy cold.
"Laxus."
His voice dropped low, carrying a powerful sense of oppression.
"You've gone too far."
Seeing his attack blocked again, the anger on Laxus's face intensified, and he laughed arrogantly.
"Too far? I'm just cleaning up the garbage in the guild. Including you guys who shield the trash."
He pointed at the three people protected behind Ryoma, full of disdain.
"They are just a bunch of weaklings, keeping them will only drag the guild down."
Ryoma gently tilted his head, looking at him with a gaze bordering on pity. "Do you care so much about the opinions of outsiders? Are you willing to attack your own comrades just for the sake of that so-called reputation for strength?"
"What do you know!"
Laxus was completely enraged. This question touched the most sensitive nerve in his heart.
"It's because of your naive ideas that those scoundrels dare to casually judge Fairy Tail!"
Before he finished speaking, he transformed into a bolt of golden lightning and instantly rushed in front of Ryoma.
Lightning Dragon's Breakdown Fist!
The fist, enveloped in immense thunder and lightning, brought forth a harsh tearing sound as it slammed straight toward Ryoma's face.
Facing this violent attack, Ryoma's demeanor was exceptionally calm. He simply raised his hand, covering his palm with a thin layer of ice, and effortlessly blocked Laxus's powerful, heavy punch.
Where the fist and palm met, lightning and cold air collided fiercely, yet they failed to make Ryoma retreat even half a step.
In the instant of Laxus's astonishment, Ryoma's other hand had already clasped his wrist.
Countless ice shards, too small to be seen with the naked eye, silently adhered to Laxus's body along the point of contact. They were completely unaffected by the violent lightning and spread rapidly as if alive.
"Only the weak indulge in past glory and the judgment of others."
Ryoma continued speaking in a calm tone while easily deflecting Laxus's continuous fierce attacks.
Laxus's attacks grew faster and fiercer: Lightning Dragon's Roar, Lightning Dragon's Iron Fist—various moves appeared endlessly, leaving the ground of the entire park in ruins.
Yet, all attacks were neutralized by Ryoma in the simplest way.
Looking at the man before him, who was completely blinded by rage and incapable of listening to a single word, Ryoma sighed softly.
'As expected, trying to reason with him in this state is pointless.'
He parried a heavy kick from Laxus and used the momentum to float back several meters.
"It looks like it's time for you to calm down properly."
As Ryoma's words fell, he softly snapped his fingers.
At that instant, the countless ice shards covering Laxus's entire body suddenly erupted in a dazzling blue light.
The cold air expanded exponentially. Solid ice began to grow and spread from his limbs and joints at a visible speed, freezing his entire body in an instant.
An ice sculpture, with only his head remaining exposed, was thus created.
"Ahhhhh!"
Laxus let out an unwilling roar.
The Magic Power inside him surged wildly, and golden-yellow lightning immediately wrapped around his body, attempting to break the solid ice from within.
However, it was as if the lightning had been trapped in an invisible cage, only able to surge frantically on the surface of his body, unable to be released outwards, let alone shatter this layer of ice containing terrifying Magic Power.
Veins bulged on his face as he used all his strength to roar at Ryoma.
"Ryoma! Don't get smug! I will prove to you! I am the one who is right! Fairy Tail needs purification!"
This failure not only failed to calm him down but instead made his extreme ideas even more resolute.
Ryoma watched him quietly and slowly spoke, "Alright, then stay inside and reflect properly."
"Once you recognize your mistake, I will let you out."