"Whoosh!"
The light cannon roared forward, crashing violently against the invisible "Crystal Wall" with deafening thunder and blinding radiance before being violently repelled by the wall's powerful repulsive force.
Everyone held their breath, watching with bated anticipation.
"BOOM!!!"
The rebounded light cannon struck the "Dorma Anim" directly with terrifying force, slamming the creature to the ground and stirring up a cloud of dust.
"Don't tell me we're seeing the 'smoke without injury' trope again."
Marco commented dryly as he watched the "Dorma Anim" collapse into the dust cloud.
And indeed, when the dust settled, the "Dorma Anim" emerged completely unscathed, with only some dirt clinging to its armor.
This sight made everyone gasp in disbelief.
The power of that earlier attack went without saying - every Mage present possessed sufficient skill to recognize its magnitude.
At least half of those present couldn't launch an attack of that caliber themselves.
Yet even such a powerful magical wave failed to harm the "Dorma Anim" in the slightest, a reality that left the entire group stunned.
"Magic nullification... it's not just an empty phrase after all..."
Marco furrowed his brow, feeling genuinely challenged.
This thing was downright bizarre! Did it really reject all magical attacks?
"Then we'll use our fists! We'll smash it with our bare hands!"
Natsu's roar echoed like thunder.
While everyone else was startled by the "Dorma Anim's" magic immunity, he remained undaunted and fearless.
For what he believed was right, he would never retreat half a step, even if it meant breaking his head or fighting to death.
"Haha! Well said! This is exactly when we need your spirit, Natsu!"
Natsu's words greatly heartened Marco, who laughed heartily and gave Natsu such a vigorous shoulder slap that it sent the boy tumbling to the ground.
Natsu didn't complain, immediately scrambling to his feet to stand beside Marco facing the "Dorma Anim."
To hell with magic immunity!
Couldn't they fight without magic?
First, they'd smash its outer shell! Let's see how it would maintain its magic immunity then!
"Guys! Natsu is absolutely right! If magic doesn't work, then we'll smash it with our fists! Kick it apart with our feet! Bash it open with our heads! Whatever it takes, we're fighting this thing to the death today!"
Marco turned, his gaze sweeping like lightning over the tense, angry, and determined faces behind him.
Raising his arm, he rallied them with a voice that boomed like a bell, instantly igniting everyone's fighting spirit.
At this point, they had no reason to retreat.
Even facing this behemoth with magic immunity, they had to grit their teeth and charge forward.
Even if they had to pound it repeatedly, they would smash this thing to pieces!
"Let's fight it out!"
"Smash it!"
"Charge!"
Marco's rallying cry received enthusiastic responses from everyone.
Whether Mages from "Fairy Tail," "Blue Pegasus," or "Quatro Cerberus," all were influenced by him and Natsu, their emotions running high.
"Those with poor physical abilities or unskilled in close combat should stay back - know your limits. Those confident in their fists and feet, follow me!"
Of course, Marco wasn't just focused on boosting everyone's morale.
This matter was ultimately quite dangerous, and purely magic-type Mages who were too fragile shouldn't step forward.
If they went up and got crushed underfoot, it would only add to the casualties.
After giving his instructions, Marco took the lead, vaulting over the corridor railing and leaping into the central circular plaza.
Mid-air, he waved his hand and crows flew out, carrying him directly toward the central "Dorma Anima."
Natsu followed suit, grabbing a crow to fly out, with Gray close behind.
Mirajane had already taken on her demon form and flew on her own.
Elfman, the Beast King, was even more ferocious, making a giant leap like a flying ape before landing and cratering the ground.
"We can't fall behind either! Follow me, mates!"
Bacchus's eyes blazed with fervent fighting spirit as he excitedly waved his fists, rallying the Mages of Quatro Cerberus.
Magic useless? So what? He was a combat specialist to begin with—strength was his forte!
In contrast, Blue Pegasus had fewer combat specialists, but most of them had stayed with Makarov to help intercept reinforcements.
Only Ichiya and a few others had come along.
Ichiya naturally wouldn't back down, he followed without hesitation ready to showcase his skills.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz!"
While Marco was mobilizing the "expedition force" for a desperate battle, King Faust wasn't idle either.
He controlled the "Dorma Anima," opening its magical energy absorption openings that were spread all over its body and beginning to frantically, greedily devour magical energy!
A visible, tangible torrent of magical energy converged from all directions, as if the entire world of Edolas was groaning in agony.
The remnants of magical energy in this nearly depleted world were almost entirely forcibly extracted and funneled into the massive "Dragon Knight."
One reason this thing was forbidden was its terrifying magical energy consumption—activating it once could absorb half the world's magical energy.
For the nearly magic-depleted world of Edolas, this was naturally extremely taboo.
Of course, its power went without saying.
Its terrifying might was such that even humans ultimately had to seal it away, never using it unless absolutely necessary.
"These damned creatures! They slaughtered the Mages of the Magic Guilds, banned public use of magic, and recklessly used Anima to invade other worlds—all to ensure they had ample magical energy for themselves. They've abandoned their humanity just for a bit of magical energy!"
Laxus landed heavily on the ground, the stone slabs beneath his feet instantly cracking.
Watching the "Dorma Anima" devour the world's last vestiges of life like a glutton, golden arcs of electricity crackled around him, and he couldn't help but curse loudly.
You could say Laxus had issues with his philosophy on guild-building, but you could never claim his basic values were flawed.
Facing scum like King Faust, Laxus dropped all decorum—and rightly so.
Everyone felt the same; anyone would curse these rulers of the "Edolas Kingdom."
Their greed was simply too shameless.
"Everything I've done is for Edolas! To grant Edolas infinite magical power to wield—no one can stop me! You restless souls waiting to be converted into magic dare trespass into my domain? You're courting death!"
After absorbing all the remaining magical energy from the world of Edolas, Dorma Anim's form blazed with intense radiance.
Its colossal frame seemed to grow even more menacing and terrifying, while the energy waves it emitted thickened the very air around it.
King Faust, piloting the beast, grew increasingly maniacal.
He unleashed a mechanical, almost mad roar toward the crowd, his entire being appearing utterly deranged—perhaps influenced by this Dragon Knight.
"Old fool, I'll give you just one response."
Watching the silver-white steel dragon clawing and posturing within the magical torrent, radiating an aura of destruction, Marco hovered mid-air supported by his crow.
Clenching his right fist, he locked eyes on the massive mechanical dragon head and dove from the sky like a shooting star!
"My fist, too, knows no weakness!"
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