Marco called out in confusion, snapping the distracted Laxus back to attention. The now-focused Laxus appeared slightly flushed, as even a momentary lapse in concentration during battle could determine victory or defeat. Had this been a life-or-death fight rather than an assessment, Marco could have easily exploited that brief distraction to humiliate him—and Marco certainly had the capability to do so. 'Marco... he still have some respect for me.' Laxus wouldn't deny this fact in his heart. He felt ashamed of his momentary lapse, especially the reason behind it. Looking at Marco, who wore an enigmatic smile, Laxus wondered if that earlier "brother" had been nothing more than an illusion. 'Damn it! Marco, was this all part of your plan?!' Marco hadn't expected Laxus to react so strongly either. He had merely been casually playing along with the act, tossing out a meme-like phrase—something along the lines of "foolish older brother." Laxus's stunned reaction left Marco feeling somewhat conflicted. Truth be told, back in their childhood, Marco had obediently called Laxus "brother." Before fully understanding the situation and lacking deeper knowledge of this world, he hadn't wanted to stand out as overly different. But due to their cheap father, Ivan Dreyar, the conflicts between Laxus and Makarov, and Laxus's rebellious teenage phase, Marco gradually stopped callin laxus "brother" and began addressing Laxus directly by name—just as Laxus had largely stopped calling Makarov "grandpa." The family dynamics had indeed fractured significantly after Ivan Dreyar's expulsion. Marco's relationship with their cheap father, Ivan Dreyar, had always been lukewarm at best. Ivan had never wanted Makarov to adopt Marco, but he couldn't override the old man's decision. Latest content publıshed on NovєlFіre.net So, Ivan simply pretended Marco didn't exist, barely exchanging a word with him. Fortunately, Ivan was soon expelled from the guild, allowing him to avoid the annoyance altogether. Thus, though Marco didn't fully grasp the underlying reasons, he firmly sided with Makarov in the matter, inevitably creating some distance between him and Laxus. Over the years, Marco had made deliberate efforts to mend his relationship with Laxus, but he hadn't yet resumed the old form of address. "Marco, you've passed the assessment." Laxus's face darkened. He didn't want the duel to end this way, but from an assessment standpoint, he couldn't justify failing Marco—his conscience wouldn't allow it. "That doesn't mean we can't keep sparring. Want to continue?" Marco grinned, extending the invitation. He, too, didn't want the match to conclude . He still wanted to test the defensive capabilities of the "Crystal Wall" against Laxus. "Good! Let's keep going!" Laxus's eyes lit up as he agreed without hesitation. Marco, as expected, hadn't disappointed him. After the brief interruption, Laxus's focus sharpened even further, his aura growing more intense than before. "Magic" is born from the heart, so "power surges" truly exist in this world. The bonds of emotion can often create miracles. Whatever you have to say, just babble it out to our bonds! 'Is this triggering a bond effect?' Watching the fiercely charging Laxus, Marco mused inwardly. If this were a game, he and Laxus would probably have a unique "Dreyar Brothers" bond. Laxus transformed into lightning, trailing golden light as he charged straight at Marco. He wanted to see if Marco's "Instant Movement" was as proficient as Jose Porla's. This wasn't just Laxus being stubborn. Abilities involving spatial manipulation were inherently difficult to master. Marco hadn't possessed this ability for long, so Laxus doubted his "Instant Movement" could rival Jose Porla's. For most people, Laxus would have made a definitive judgment. After all, Jose Porla was one of the "Ten Wizard Saints," long renowned, with "Instant Movement" being his signature skill—something ordinary people could hardly compare to. But when the comparison was Marco, Laxus wouldn't jump to conclusions. With Marco, no matter how bizarre the situation, nothing would surprise him. Laxus closed the distance and struck mercilessly at the gleaming Aries Gold Cloth. Even if Marco didn't dodge, the Gold Cloth's defense would mitigate much of the damage. Laxus knew Marco's Cloths were sturdy—far sturdier than Erza's "Thunder Emperor Armor." Though he claimed to hold nothing back, he was still holding back in every way. A deafening explosion rang out as Laxus's fist halted mid-air before Marco, as if striking an invisible wall. No matter how much force or magic he poured into it, his attack couldn't breach that unseen barrier. Before Laxus could even react in shock, a tremendous force rebounded. The lightning he'd unleashed with his punch slipped from his control and surged back toward him. It all happened too fast—faster than "Instant Movement," far beyond his expectations. He hadn't anticipated Marco using "Instant Movement," but he had considered the possibility of Marco dodging. Now, he could only be sent flying backward by the "wall's" rebound, as if struck by a massive hammer. For the first time, Laxus experienced the full force of his own punch—an entirely new sensation for him. At least the lightning had no effect on him, or he might have tasted his own electrifying power. Laxus crashed into the ground, carving out a massive crater. The lightning-fast sequence of events left everyone stunned. "What just happened?!" Gray exclaimed urgently, utterly baffled. All he saw was Laxus charging forward—then flying back to smash into the ground. It seemed like he did nothing at all! With a smile on his face, he simply stood there, waving his hand forward in a sweeping motion as if drawing an invisible wall. Since he couldn't understand what had happened, Gray turned to look at Erza and Mirajane beside him, only to find that Mirajane was also staring at Erza—clearly, she hadn't grasped it either. As for Cana, Elfman, and Joey, they were even more bewildered. The only thing they understood was that Laxus was now in the same position they had been in earlier. This realization shocked everyone—was Marco really that much stronger than Laxus?!