The fighting style of mages generally involves initial probing. Once a strategy is devised, the battle's outcome is often decided in a very short time.
This is clearly depicted in the anime. It may seem like Natsu and others are at a disadvantage initially, but once they identify their opponent's weaknesses and devise a targeted strategy, they shout "We are Fairy Tail!" and unleash a burst that instantly defeats the enemy.
This is because mages, after all, have human bodies. Even with various defensive measures, such as the common magical shields, these have damage thresholds.
Boom.Checkmate.
That's why Dragon Slayer Mages are monsters in human form.
Thus, as long as the power gap isn't astronomical, they can brute-force through it—sustaining damage, regenerating mana, and slamming their enemies again and again until nothing's left standing.
Jehfrit is not a Dragon Slayer Mage; he is just an ordinary mage.
No powerful bloodline.
No ancient magic.
No convenient last-minute evolution.
He doesn't possess outstanding abilities—perhaps just slightly better observation skills.
After all, a mage who relies on deception for a living, doubling as a street magician, wouldn't survive without keen observational skills!
And now?
Now was almost the time.
From the previous series of battles, Jehfrit had already roughly grasped Jose's attack patterns.
This included the casting speed, power, stamina, and magic consumption of his various spells, along with his attacking habits, among other subtle details.
The subtle pauses between one spell and the next.
His tells.
All of it—burned into Jehfrit's brain.
These nuances would become the key to defeating Jose.
But the current issue is...
That cursed black fog.
It drained Laxus to clear it, and even if they did, it would regenerate seconds later.
A decisive blow could not be landed in that mist.
Therefore,
The decisive battle cannot be fought within the black fog.
So what then?
How do you drag a Wizard Saint out of the terrain he's dominating?
Excluding Laxus, the only option left was
Jehfrit lowered his gaze to the revolver in his hand.
"..."
Teal.
Sleek, black, with gilded edges—sharp as hell.
It had been with him a long time.
But ever since the Galuna Island incident... its damage just didn't cut it anymore.
Against Jose?
Completely obsolete.
He clenched his jaw.
Though reluctant to admit it—
Even if he didn't want to admit it, Teal 6.0—his old partner—was due for retirement.
"Laxus," Jehfrit said, voice calm. "Your health bar's longer than his, right?"
Laxus frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Just follow my lead."
With that, Jehfrit drew the long blade Hani. He held the gun in his left hand and the sword in his right.
'Crackle crackle crackle'
Covered in golden lightning, Laxus charged straight towards Jose.
Jose narrowed his eyes.
Desperation?
The neat freak was charging in with a melee weapon?
He didn't buy it—but he couldn't afford to underestimate them either.
Jose split his focus.
He used one hand to fend off Laxus and the other to control Shade magic, attacking Jehfrit.
"Don't underestimate me!" Laxus shouted angrily.
Thinking he could fend him off with just one hand was too much!
"Lightning Dragon's—Iron Fist !"
"Dark Spiral!"
Jose felt the pressure increase dramatically. Their magics clashed, tearing the air apart.
Jose winced from the pressure and fired off a barrage of purple-black magic arrows toward Jehfrit.
"Ghost Arrows!"
From the purple-black magic circle, hundreds of ghost arrows continuously fired.
Jehfrit had already mastered Jose's pattern of magical attacks, but even knowing the answers, writing the perfect solution wasn't easy.
He switched to the wind-pressure bullet chamber, dodging where possible, and when not, using Hani to cut through the ghost arrows.
"Laxus!" he barked. "Could you maybe try harder?!"
Directly charging into the enemy's magical barrage wasn't Jehfrit's forte.
"Damn it!" Laxus clenched his teeth, dragon scales appearing on both arms.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art—"
"Mystical Lightning!!!"
Full-power output of Dragon Slayer Magic.
Even Jose trembled at this!
He had to resist Laxus with all his might.
It was a full-power blast. Even Jose's eyes widened.
Forced to go all-in to block it, he left a tiny opening.
And Jehfrit took it.
He charged.
Jehfrit finally found an opportunity to get close!
"Damn!" Jose sensed him, tried to pull back, but Laxus stepped forward again—trapping him.
Jehfrit rotated Teal's chamber.
Click click click
Three turns left.Six turns right.
Locked.
The final bullet mode:
Self-Detonation.
He directly threw Teal towards Laxus.
Jehfrit tossed Teal to Laxus, who caught it without question..
He knew what was coming.
Jose did too.
Self-detonation initiated.
Jose sensed the powerful and chaotic magical fluctuations.
"Not good!"
Jose was greatly alarmed and hurriedly activated his magical shield, attempting to defend against the terrifying magical explosion.
The gun's magic flared wildly—unstable and chaotic.
"You're not getting away this time!!" Laxus roared.
"Dragon's Jaw!!!"
Laxus charged madly towards Jose!
He lunged.
"YOU MADMAN!" Jose screamed. "You'll die too!!"
'Boom'
Laxus' right hand, trailing myriad golden lightning bolts, slammed a punch fiercely onto Jose's shield.
'Crack'
The shield cracked!
Seizing the chance, Laxus tore open the shield!
And shattered it.
A heartbeat later—
Teal exploded.
Self-detonation!
BOOM BOOM BOOM
The earth split.
The sky ignited.
The sea churned.
A shockwave tore through everything—obliterating the black fog.
Two shadows were blown out from the smoke.
One slanted downward, the other upward.
"Gray! Natsu!" Jehfrit shouted.
"Ahh—" Gray roared, squeezing out every bit of his magic!
"Ice-Make: Prison!"
'Boom'
A massive ice pillar erupted from the ground, freezing the upward shadow!
"Don't underestimate us Fairy Tail members!" Natsu roared.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art—"
"Crimson Lotus—Exploding Flame Blade !!!!"
Flames of the fire dragon wrapped around his arms. Natsu leaped up the ice column created by Gray, wielding fiery blades and delivering a ruthless flame slash, mercilessly shattering the ice pillar and smashing it heavily onto Jose's body.
"Splurt!"
Jose spat blood and continued to be blown backward!
"Erza!"
Jehfrit shouted.
Erza, who had just defeated Aria, was already prepared. Upon hearing Jehfrit's call, she immediately cast her magic.
"Requip!"
"Inferno Armor!"
A full-body black steel armor, wielding a serrated giant sword.
Erza leapt high and slashed down!
"Cough, damn!" Jose could only hastily raise his hand. He had almost no time to cast spells, but whatever defense he could muster, he had to try his best!
"Death Wave!"
But it was too late.
"RAAAH!!" Erza screamed, cutting through Death Wave with raw force.
'Boom'
The massive explosion sent both flying.
'Boom'
Jose slammed into the ground like a meteor.
He was getting jumped by fairy tail's members.
First, Teal's explosion.
Then Gray.
Then Natsu.
Then Erza.
Even someone like Jose couldn't take all that.
He tried to rise—only to see someone standing above him.
'Tap'
Jehfrit appeared before him.
Jose's pupils contracted sharply. Instinctively, he raised his right hand to block.
The young man smirked smugly, raising a long sword high and slashing down fiercely!
'Splurt'
Steel bit into flesh—
Carving a line from the left shoulder to the thigh, a huge wound gushed blood.
'Whoosh'
Jose's severed hand landed on his own face.
He didn't even feel it.
'Swish swish'
Jehfrit spun the blade once, clean and stylish, and sheathed it in one fluid motion.
A giant figure came striding over the waves—it was Master Makarov returning.
But obviously, he was a step too late.
He glanced at all the guild members. Though everyone was injured, none had died.
He sighed in relief and finally looked at Jehfrit, his face full of pride.
'Swish'
Laxus pushed away the rubble, sat up, and shook his head, looking somewhat dejected.
He had turned into half a bloodied person.
Seeing his grandson in such a pitiful state, Makarov's face flickered with a trace of heartache.
"..."
Jehfrit awkwardly turned his head slightly and saw at the edge of the distant cliff—
There, standing alone, Mirajane held a glass of red sparkling water, ice clinking softly as she gave him a cool, composed smile.
///////////
Translator's Note :
This chapter is, without a doubt, my best translation work so far—I'm genuinely proud of how it turned out! You can read the other translation of this fanfic ("Fairy Tail: I Am Not The Most Terrifying Wizard"), I encourage you to compare and see the difference on this chapter.
I put extra effort into refining the fight flow, enhancing the reading experience, and injecting global dynamism into the text which were lacking sometimes.
Some sentences were reworked, others trimmed or expanded—just little tweaks left and right to make everything smoother and more engaging.
Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed translating it!