Hades's magical barrier fractured with a loud crack.
"Impossible!!!" Hades exclaimed in disbelief, seeing the fissures spiderweb across his conjured shield.
Crash—!
The barrier shattered, and Su Yan's colossal Haki-charged palm slammed down.
Boom—!!!
"Aaarghhh!!" Hades howled as he was smashed into the earth. A massive handprint indented the ground, with Hades at its center.
"D-damn it…bastard…" Slowly, Hades forced himself upright.
"Oh? You're still standing?" Su Yan remarked, eyeing him coolly. He was slightly impressed that Hades could remain conscious after that strike.
Suddenly, a stone projectile whizzed toward Su Yan from the side. Su Yan frowned, raised a hand, and caught the stone effortlessly between his fingers. With a clench of his fist, it crumbled into dust.
"Who's there?!" Makarov demanded, startled that someone else was present.
A man who looked to be in his 40s stepped out: black hair styled in a long braid, a bit of stubble along his chin, and wearing a white coat. He regarded Hades with a tone that lacked full respect. "President Hades… Looks like you've taken quite a beating."
Hades glowered at him. "Bluenote Stinger, I told you to remain on the airship."
"Guarding that ship is just too dull," the newcomer replied offhandedly. "I was hoping to find a strong opponent. Seems like that might be the whelp who just smacked you around. Let me handle him."
"Bluenote Stinger… known for leaving barren ground in his wake," Makarov murmured warily, recognizing the name. "He singlehandedly annihilated the Blue Dragon Company in the Kabria War. So he's joined Grimoire Heart as well…"
Makarov, worry creasing his features, addressed Su Yan: "Boy, let me take on one of them. You can't possibly fight both Hades and Bluenote at once—"
But Su Yan halted him with a firm hand on his shoulder, a confident smile on his face. "Master, you're exhausted. Just leave these two to me. Trust me—they can't hurt me."
Bluenote scoffed, "Arrogant brat! Kneel down—!"
He flung out his hand, and a sudden, crushing force of gravity pressed down around Su Yan's feet.
Boom—!!!
The ground beneath Su Yan splintered, but he didn't budge an inch.
"Hm?" Bluenote exerted more power. The gravitational field intensified, forcing deeper cracks into the earth. Still, Su Yan remained standing, refusing to bow.
"Tch…!" Realizing brute force wasn't enough, Bluenote prepared to intensify it further—but Su Yan launched forward, crossing the distance in a flash.
"Stop right there!" Bluenote roared, slamming his palm down as if pressing the air. Boom—!!! Terrible gravity bore down on Su Yan.
Despite that, Su Yan only slowed for a moment. He stood about two meters from Bluenote—and then took another step.
"H-how…?!" Bluenote gasped, stunned. Su Yan's fist found its mark, nailing Bluenote in the face.
"Gwaaah!!" The blow sent Bluenote hurtling into a rocky outcrop.
From a short distance away, Hades grimaced. "That fool. He assumed his magic was invincible…" He'd just been battered by Su Yan, but now recognized the young man's monstrous strength and impervious defense. The best chance to destroy him lay in high-level destructive magic, not small-scale techniques.
"Dark Chains!!" Hades hissed, slamming his palm onto the ground. A host of dark, sinuous chains erupted beneath Su Yan, entangling him tightly.
"Urgh!" Makarov tried to rush over, but Hades launched a swarm of dark energy bullets at him.
Boom, boom, boom!!
Explosions rained around Makarov, blocking him from rescuing Su Yan.
"Damn it—!"
Meanwhile, the black chains converged around Su Yan's limbs and torso. More and more tethered him in place, each pulsating with malevolent magic.
"Amaterasu—Hundred Styles!" Hades bellowed, forming a vast array of runes around Su Yan. With a deafening roar, the entire formation detonated in a colossal explosion, shaking Tenrou Island once again.
Boom—!!!
The blast's shockwave tore up the landscape. Even from a distance, other Fairy Tail members felt the quake and saw fire plumes rising.
Bluenote scoffed, wiping blood from his swollen cheek. "Heh, lucky me. I wanted some payback after that brat clocked me, but it looks like Master Hades handled it."
Yet in his mind, he sulked at losing face.
All around them, the fierce battles between Fairy Tail and Grimoire Heart continued. Only time would tell whether Su Yan could survive the deadly barrage unleashed by Hades.