Chapter 81: Fusion, Magic Power Returns

The smoke and dust gradually dispersed, and Gerald's figure appeared.

His arms were crossed before his chest, his upper garment already blown apart by the impact just now, revealing a body covered in wounds.

"I truly underestimated you all..." Gerald spoke with difficulty.

Voice not yet fallen, suddenly a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed from his mouth, splattering a patch of crimson on the ground.

Gerald wiped the blood traces from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, then panted violently, his chest heaving unceasingly; clearly the confrontation just now had consumed a large amount of his magic power.

"Now, tell us the location of the R-System core," Fugaku stepped forward slowly, controlling Ame-no-Mihashira held high: "Otherwise, you will experience things more painful than death."

Hearing this, Gerald's pupils contracted imperceptibly. He was silent for a moment, the corner of his mouth hooking a faint, barely-there smile. "R-System? It seems you know more than I imagined."

Gerald slowly straightened his body, his gaze sweeping over the devastated battlefield. His voice was calm and cold: "But do you think, with just this, you can shake the painstaking efforts of my so many years?"

Fugaku was just about to speak, when he saw Gerald suddenly look toward the distant sky.

"Finally here," Gerald said in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of relief, "I originally thought I wouldn't need to use it."

The two followed Gerald's gaze into the distance, only to see a streak of golden light racing across the horizon, its speed astonishing.

Orochimaru's brows furrowed tightly, alarm bells ringing in his heart. This scene awakened some unpleasant memories in him, making him instinctively feel danger approaching.

"Fugaku, move, kill him!" Orochimaru shouted in a low voice, his tone carrying a trace of urgency.

Hearing this, a cold light flashed in Fugaku's eyes, a bone-chilling killing intent bursting out from his body.

"Die!" Fugaku shouted lowly.

The Ame-no-Nuboko in Susanoo's hand emitted a sharp whistling sound, smashing directly toward Gerald's head.

However, just as the Ame-no-Nuboko was about to touch him, that golden light suddenly flashed, transforming into a human figure blocking in front of Gerald.

"Hehe, too late!" Gerald's voice carried a trace of mockery, as if he had anticipated all this long ago.

"Clang!"

A deafening boom exploded in the air. That human figure actually took Susanoo's full-power strike head-on just like that.

The air seemed to freeze in this instant, then erupted with a terrifying shockwave.

Before Fugaku could recover from his shock, that human figure suddenly moved. He rushed toward Susanoo like a bolt of lightning, punching out once more.

"Bang!"

Fugaku only felt an unmatchable force strike; Susanoo's massive body was actually sent flying easily like a leaf.

He didn't even have time to make any reaction before his whole person was already thrown a kilometer away.

"Boom!"

Susanoo's massive body crashed heavily onto the sea surface, stirring up towering tsunamis. Water splashed in all directions, the seawater as if a giant bomb had been dropped, forming a huge depression.

Orochimaru stared wide-eyed, watching the scene before him in disbelief. The suddenly appeared human figure slowly turned around, revealing a face that shocked him.

"How is this possible?" Orochimaru murmured to himself.

The person before him actually looked exactly the same as Gerald, every line on the face identical. The only difference was that this person emitted an even more powerful aura, even more heart-palpitating.

Just at this moment, that figure identical to Gerald slowly walked toward the original Gerald, without any verbal exchange, they tacitly extended their hands toward each other. "Zeref. Welcome back." Gerald said softly, his tone carrying a trace of anticipation.

The next moment, their palms touched. In an instant, a powerful magic power fluctuation swept the entire space. Dazzling light erupted from the two, enveloping the entire room in a golden expanse.

"This is... fusion?" Orochimaru exclaimed in shock, a trace of shock flashing in his golden snake pupils.

Just at this moment, Gerald's wild laughter resounded through the clouds.

"Hahahaha!"

Along with Gerald's wild laughter, powerful magic power surged from his body like substance, forming visible ripples in the air, even the entire Tower of Heaven trembling.

Feeling this suffocating oppressive feeling. Orochimaru involuntarily retreated a few steps, a trace of wariness surfacing on his face.

The golden light dissipated, Gerald's laughter gradually subsided, he took a deep breath, a look of intoxication surfacing on his face. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with arrogance.

"Familiar power has returned!" Gerald said laughing, his voice carrying unconcealed arrogance, "Truly a nostalgic feeling!"

He raised his hand, a complex magic circle instantly condensing in his palm, emitting heart-palpitating energy fluctuations.

Gerald looked at the magic circle in his hand with interest, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

"You all entertained me quite well..." Gerald spoke slowly, his tone full of self-satisfaction, "Previously most of my magic power was stored on my clone, even my most proficient magic could not be cast."

"Now," he paused, a dangerous light flashing in his eyes, "Let you witness what true power is!"

Voice not yet fallen, Gerald's feet stomped heavily on the ground.

"Heavenly Body Magic · Meteor!"

In an instant, a golden magic circle suddenly emerged beneath Gerald's feet. Complex runes rotated rapidly within, emitting astonishing magic power fluctuations.

The next moment, Gerald's body was wrapped in a layer of dazzling golden light, the whole person like a brilliant meteor.

"Whoosh!"

A sharp sound of breaking air rang in the air. Gerald's figure instantly vanished from the spot, leaving only a dazzling golden light trail.

He rushed straight toward Orochimaru at astonishing speed; wherever he passed, the air was torn, emitting piercing explosive sounds.

Orochimaru's pupils shrank violently; his body had not yet had time to make any reaction before Gerald's attack arrived like thunder.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Dense punching sounds resounded through the entire space, each punch landing heavily on Orochimaru's body.

Orochimaru laboriously condensed Armament Haki, yet it was scattered in the blink of an eye.

Fresh blood continuously sprayed, drawing crimson arcs in the air. Orochimaru's body twisted and deformed, as if ravaged by an invisible giant force.

In a blink, Gerald had already thrown who knows how many punches; Orochimaru only felt his whole body in agony, as if all his bones had been shattered.

Finally, Gerald fiercely spun, a fierce roundhouse kick heavily striking Orochimaru's chest.

"Bang!"

Orochimaru was like a kite with its string cut, instantly kicked flying. His body drew a long arc, plummeting rapidly toward the distant sea surface.

(Chapter End)