The conversation splits into two parts.
Just as Jubeia and Grela were fighting, her colleague, the Ghostly Four‑Element Fire user Rurutama, suffered a miserable defeat.
When the battle began, he, out of curiosity about the holy‑attribute flame Hop had previously wielded, voluntarily engaged Hop.
As a top student of Miridian Magic Academy, Rurutama is proficient in the control and transformation of fire magic; his spells can manipulate all unstable flames nearby, even the dragon‑slaying fire of a Dragon‑Slayer Mage, which he can also control to some extent.
Moreover, to counter the fire‑based Dragon‑Slayer Mage who can consume fire magic, Rurutama even devised a flame with an extremely disgusting taste.
He can't believe anyone would eat excrement just to win!
Unfortunately for Rurutama, his opponent was Hop, who wielded the perfectly stable 'Holy Radiance', a Dragon King spell with holy attribute purification.
No matter how Rurutama altered the taste of his fire magic, Hop's Dragon King spell would purify it and swallow it in one bite.
This is the strength of a Dragon‑Slayer Mage: any magic of the same attribute becomes perfect fuel.
Though his magic was thwarted, Rurutama didn't completely panic.
He was immensely grateful for the days at Miridian Academy when the notoriously strict physical‑training instructor, wielding a cane, pushed him to endure rigorous martial arts and swordsmanship.
(Magic isn't omnipotent; in critical moments, a strong body and refined swordsmanship can save your life!)
The teacher's words still echo in his ears.
Now is the moment of proof!
Rurutama drew his katana, stared at Hop, his eyes full of provocation, and said, "Hey, dare you face me in a duel without magic!"
Hop raised an eyebrow, as if to ask, "Does he think I know any martial arts?"
It's well known that Fairy Tail mages excel in physical techniques.
Although Hop had only recently joined the guild, he is a second‑time traveler; it was a pity he didn't awaken as a magnetic field master in his previous world, but he has nonetheless mastered several advanced martial arts.
After arriving in this world of magic, Hop thought his martial skills would lie dormant, but now someone has challenged him to a knife duel.
There's no reason to refuse.
So Hop accepted Rurutama's challenge.
"Hmph! You cheat with magic. Let me show you the power of Miridian‑style swordsmanship!"
Rurutama "clang" drew his katana from his waist; the blade gleamed like snow, his stance perfect, embodying the academy's precise and flamboyant techniques, and he lunged at Hop.
For a moment, blades flashed, Rurutama's assault like a sudden storm. He believed that his hard‑trained sword style could overturn his earlier disadvantage.
Then… Hop, untouched by the blade flash, easily caught Rurutama's wrist, twisted, and snatched his katana.
With Rurutama frozen in shock, Hop gave him a bright smile, then unexpectedly unleashed a move that would make any man weep.
—The Leg‑Drop.
A mental image of an egg being crushed flashed by.
Rurutama's face contorted as he clenched his legs, his whole body thumped down, kneeling and collapsing to the ground, writhing like a shrimp in pain.
"W‑what the heck are you doing?!"
Rurutama wept and wailed in pain, his voice cracking with a broken, almost eunuch‑like shrillness.
His proud flame control, the specially crafted "flavor" fire, years of sword training… everything seemed pale and powerless before Hop, like a mischievous child easily crushed, ignored, and trampled by an adult.
Most importantly, despite his strength, this opponent resorted to such vile, low‑brow tactics, attacking his very core.
The outside world is terrifying.
He wanted to return to the academy… When Natsu arrived and saw this scene, he was stunned, finally understanding why Kana had been so decisive.
Together they already knew Rurutama had been taken down by Hop.
My money!!
Seeing Natsu's discomfort, Hop chuckled and, adding insult to injury, said, "What's wrong? Can't find a suitable opponent?"
Those words made Natsu even more upset.
He wasn't even supposed to fight the big boss, and he couldn't get the small boss either; while he was running back and forth, the low‑level mobs below had already been cleared by his teammates.
After a round of teamwork, everyone contributed, but Natsu, darting everywhere, barely logged any damage.
Going back, he'd definitely be mocked mercilessly by Gray.
"If all else fails, go over to Erza's side and steal a kill," Hop's tempting voice whispered into Natsu's ear.
Natsu's heart leapt, and his dull eyes lit up again; stealing a kill from Erza… the thought was exhilarating!
Even if he got scolded by Erza later, being outdone by Gray was something he could never accept.
Once the dangerous idea took root, he couldn't stop it.
Fortunately, Alia's heavy fall from the second floor into the hall reminded Natsu of Erza's terrifying power.
Erza, clad in the 'Wind Emperor Armor', gently descended from the second floor, glanced at the 'Ghostly Four‑Element Qi' she had drawn, and then, satisfied, dispelled the spell.
The 'Wind Emperor Armor', capable of resisting some wind magic, allowed Erza to flip Alia over with little effort.
"So this is the Ghost's S‑rank mage, huh?"
"Why does it feel so effortless?"
"Look, Hop, Elfman, and Gray each defeated a Four‑Element."
"Doesn't that mean they also have S‑rank strength?"
"As for Natsu…"
"It's fine, he's ignited."
"..."
Seeing the comrades surrounding Alia, pointing and chatting in the hall, Hop's mouth twitched.
In fact, the 'Four Elements', being S‑rank mages of the Ghost faction, are not weak.
Their defeat stems from a single reason: the intense power competition within Fairy Tail.
Natsu, Gray, and Elfman, who have fully mastered the 'Beast King Soul', possess levels comparable to other guilds' S‑rank mages, at worst approaching that tier.
Yet within Fairy Tail, these three, facing Erza and the former Mira‑Jean, are still junior in both strength and status.
"Alright, those whose strength is a bit lower, please step aside."
"The rest, come with me and see if we can help the guild master."
Before Erza could finish speaking, the entire Ghost headquarters suddenly trembled, and she felt a wave of dizziness, nausea rushing in.
----------------------------------
I've already uploaded over 40 new chapters on Patreon!
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead, feel free to check it out.
Your support truly means a lot to me!
patreon.com/Kazenova223
Thank you so much for being here!
And if you're having fun with the story, don't forget to drop a Power Stone for me!