Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 242: Match of Equals

Rhodes still felt uneasy about sending Elfman off alone, so he dispatched additional summons: a pack of Krugs, a squad of Razoptors, and a group of Murk Wolves.

That way, even if Elfman ran into a powerful enemy force, there would still be a fighting chance to escape.

As for heavier summons like the Brambleback, Blue Sentinel, or the Rift Herald, which consumed a lot more magic power, Rhodes decided not to risk them. In a battle of this scale, calling them out now would be flirting with disaster.

"Oh? A touching farewell?" Rustyrose remarked, interrupting with a sneer. "Unfortunately, I don't care for emotional theatrics."

He waved his hand again. "Wind Guardian Beast—Belfast!"

Another massive beast appeared in a swirl of magic.

It looked vaguely like a dinosaur and Wyren, sporting a long, thrashing tail and plated in steel armor. Just like before, the beast let out a booming roar and charged, this time targeting Elfman's direction.

"Summon—Brambleback!"

Rhodes' summon lashed out, its flaming claws smacking the armored beast across the snout.

With a loud clang, a metal plate flew off as the dinosaur staggered from the impact. It shook its head, snarling, then lunged at the Brambleback.

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The colossal beasts clashed fiercely. Explosions of dust, grass, and debris erupted with each blow. The earth shook with the pounding of their fists and claws. Roads cracked. Trees split. It was a battlefield fit for titans.

The Blue Sentinel and Rustyrose's twin-horned behemoth were locked in a brutal, evenly matched brawl, chipping stone and denting metal with every hit.

The Brambleback, meanwhile, was gaining the upper hand against the dinosaur, slowly wearing it down with fiery slashes.

But the two summoners, Rhodes and Rustyrose, weren't watching the clashes unfold. They both realized something at the same time:

In the world of magic, a powerful summoner often meant a physically weak mage.

That logic didn't quite apply to Rhodes, who trained both body and magic.

Rustyrose, too, assumed he was a rare exception, like one of his own companions.

At that exact moment, both men locked eyes, and smiled slightly. A strange mutual understanding passed between them, and then—

They attacked.

"Let me show you the might of my imagination, Damocles Sword Formation!" Rustyrose called out.

"Take over—Raptor. Featherstorm Barrage!" Rhodes countered.

Dozens of elegant, magical swords materialized around Rustyrose and hurtled toward Rhodes.

Hundreds of crimson feathers, razor-sharp like enchanted blades, surged from Rhodes and flooded toward Rustyrose.

Both men leapt into the air at the same moment.

A pair of glowing white wings formed around Rustyrose's ankles.

Rhodes' arms morphed into wings of blazing red.

"What graces my feet now are the wings of Pegasus, soaring freely above the earth!" Rustyrose shouted theatrically.

Their magical attacks crashed into the earth below, leaving swords and feathers embedded in the spot where they'd just stood.

High in the sky, they eyed each other, both surprised the other could fly.

But Rhodes wasn't done.

Using his take over magic combo, he triggered another Featherstorm midair. Hundreds of burning red feathers surged toward Rustyrose once more.

Rhodes adjusted his aim slightly, accounting for the enemy's speed, tightening the radius.

"In my left hand is a golden shield that can repel everything!"

A strangely shaped golden shield materialized in a shimmer of light, deflecting every crimson feather launched toward Rustyrose.

Both Rhodes and Rustyrose reached the same conclusion: 'This guy isn't your average summoner.'

"Is that... Take over Magic?"

"Or some kind of Transformation Magic?"

Rustyrose was certain of his guess, but Rhodes shook off the notion. Though the function felt similar, Rhodes could tell from experience that this wasn't standard summoning or requip magic.

As someone well-versed in both disciplines, he sensed no spatial distortion that would normally come with conjuring or equipping.

'Could it really be tied to that 'imagination' he mentioned?' he wondered. 'Don't tell me this guy can just conjure anything he dreams up. If that's true, then why would he waste time attacking a small tribal village over some relic?'

The two men landed on opposite ends of the battlefield where their four titanic summoned beasts continued to clash.

"Hahaha! What a spectacular duel!" Rustyrose laughed, completely abandoning any thoughts about Elfman, who was rapidly escaping the area. "That white-haired man will be taken care of anyway. You, on the other hand, you're much more fun. I've never met another wizard whose magic mirrors mine so well."

His gaze grew sharp.

"But let's see... can you overcome limitless imagination?"

He spread his arms wide.

Dark purple and black energy coiled around him like a vortex, glittering with magic sigils and sparks. Whether it was pure magical pressure or just flair, Rhodes felt the weight of it.

'His magic power is incredible...' Rhodes clenched his fists. 'In raw energy, he far outclasses me.'

But that didn't mean he had no chance. The passive mana regeneration from the Blue buff might allow him to hold out in a prolonged battle. If he played it right, it could even the odds.

Still, it wasn't just this enemy he was worried about.

Using the shared vision of his summoned crab, Rhodes checked on Elfman, who had just reached the forested mountains. No pursuers so far. That was good.

More importantly, Warm and another Scuttle Crab had made it to a nearby town and successfully located a communication magic crystal.

Warm didn't know how to use it, but thankfully, a town official in formal black robes helped initiate the connection with Fairy Tail's main guild crystal.

Rhodes watched through the crab's shared vision as the communication magic crystal buzzed with a soft glow, and Mira's figure appeared in its shimmering display. Seeing her like that, distant but so close was strangely surreal.

Warm quickly held up the two pieces of paper Rhodes had written. Mira's expression tensed as she read, her brows furrowing in concern. The next moment, her image vanished, and Makarov took her place on the screen.

Rhodes couldn't hear what the Master said, but the suited official who'd been helping quickly nodded, picked up a pen, and scribbled something down before showing it to the crab:

"Don't engage. Hold position. Reinforcements en route."

Rhodes smiled bitterly. 'A bit late for that.'

He had already clashed with one of the enemy's elites—Rustyrose, a member of the Seven Kin of Purgatory from Grimoire Heart. If the entire squad was mobilized, Rhode knew he wouldn't stand a chance. But from what he could tell, Rustyrose was the only one nearby.

After the call ended, the official turned to notify the Magic Council, clearly rattled. He knew exactly how dangerous a dark guild like Grimoire Heart was, and he didn't want this quiet town to become the next Monotropa.

Suddenly—

BANG!

A deep groan echoed across the field.

"Ahhhh—!" came a roar of agony.

Rhodes turned back just in time to see the steel-armored dinosaur beast, crash to the ground under Brambleback's fiery blow. It let out a final cry before its form flickered and dissolved into mist.

"Belfast!" Rustyrose shouted, stunned.

He hadn't expected one of his guardian beasts to fall so quickly. Glaring at Rhodes, his fury surged.

"You insolent little mage!" Rustyrose bellowed.

He swept his hand dramatically.

"Appear! My third guardian beast, Alukotik of Ice!"

A massive polar bear wreathed in icy mist emerged from thin air, snarling as it stomped onto the battlefield.

"And the fourth, Antakotik of Blizzard!"

From the other side, a snow-draped mammoth trumpeted its arrival, tusks glistening with frost.

Both monsters charged Brambleback with thunderous roars, icy winds trailing behind them.

Rhodes winced. "You've got to be kidding me. Can this guy summon forever?"

...

Bonus Chapter @2000 PS

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