Fairy Tail: Becoming stronger by spending money.

God-destroying magic and dragon-destroying magic are both lost magics.

However, compared to dragon-destroying magic—which is taught by dragons or inlaid via Dragon Slayer Magic Crystals—god-destroying magic can be learned with the right magic book and a certain amount of talent.

Therefore, the price of a magic book on god-destroying magic isn't much cheaper than that of a Dragon Slayer Magic Crystal.

Coupled with a key to the Zodiac, this bet was indeed worth as much as Caesar's Dragon Slayer Magic Crystal.

"Come on then!"

Caesar waved Serena forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

After all, who says no to treasure that walks right up to you?

As for losing to Serena?

Before absorbing the crystal, Caesar might've worried about his magic reserves.

But now that he could replenish magic through space, his capacity had increased tremendously.

He had no fear of Serena's four Dragon Slayer Crystals.

"That couldn't be better!"

Serena stashed the book and key, then spun dramatically.

She opened her arms and swung them, her feet moving with flair.

It looked like…

She was dancing.

"Then let's begin!"

Serena covered half her face with one hand and pointed at Caesar with the other.

"Are you ready to lose?" she shouted proudly.

"Do you want to dance too?"

Caesar laughed. A light flared over him as he activated take over.

His eyes turned into three-spinning magatama, and the symbol of a cattail leaf fan appeared on his royal robe.

"Wait a minute!"

Seeing a fight about to erupt, Crawford leapt forward.

"We're going to the testing ground!" he barked. "Don't destroy the Council Chamber!"

He shot a sharp look at Caesar.

Caesar nodded without a word.

Crawford turned to Serena.

"If you make a move here, I will strip you of your Ten Wizard Saints title!"

"Tch."

Serena clicked her tongue.

"Fine. Let's play in the testing ground."

"I'll go ahead."

Caesar vanished instantly.

Serena froze, then laughed.

"That's the power of the Space Dragon Slayer Magic Crystal… I must have it!"

She sprinted after him.

The other Council members followed closely, eager to see the fight—and to decide how to handle the aftermath.

Caesar appeared in a vast, open area.

Feeling the space he just warped through, he realized something surprising.

After absorbing the Dragon Slayer Crystal, his mastery of space magic was already at about 60% of Laxus's level.

"To jump from zero to this much control... it'd blow the minds of any mage who's ever embedded a Dragon Slayer Crystal."

Caesar muttered to himself, already scheming how to integrate it with his take over system.

"As expected from the space attribute. Speed is ridiculous."

Right then, Serena charged in.

She raised her hands, summoning flame and wind magic.

"Outta my way, kid!"

She inhaled deeply, then hurled the flame and wind forward.

"Drink!"

With a thunderous shout, she breathed out a scorching stream of fire.

The whirlwind wrapped around it, fueling it like a bellows to a furnace.

It roared toward Caesar like a monstrous beast.

A searing wave surged ahead, threatening to burn everything in its path.

Caesar formed a seal with his hands and inhaled.

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

An enormous blast of fire erupted from his mouth, matching the enemy's flames.

Both infernos collided midair with a deafening boom.

The explosion ignited a massive sea of fire.

The heatwave slammed into the Council members who had just arrived, knocking them off their feet.

Eyes wide with horror, they watched the two figures lock into close combat.

Their movements were blinding, each strike packed with brutal magic.

The battlefield blazed like the gates of hell.

"Are they even human?"

No time for answers.

Caesar caught Serena's fists.

Serena smirked.

"I've got you!"

Caesar glanced at his hands.

Who was grabbing whom?

"Will you die if you don't brag for one second?"

"Earth Shatter!"

A huge magic circle spread under them.

The ground trembled and then cracked.

Chunks of rock erupted like a storm of jagged meteors.

Serena grinned—until she noticed Caesar's eyes.

The magatama spun.

They merged into a blood-red ring.

A skeletal figure formed around Caesar, shielding him.

The debris struck the spectral armor and bounced off.

"Space Dragon's Roar!"

Caesar opened his mouth and unleashed a space-shattering breath at close range.

"Like I don't know that one! Four Dragons' Roar!"

Serena retaliated with a multi-elemental breath.

The clash detonated again, launching both of them away.

Caesar's Susanoo shielded him with ease.

Serena, unprotected, was sent flying—one of her iconic hair buns sliced in half.

"You bastard!"

Raising her hands, she cried: "Four Dragons Bloom!"

A torrent of magic crushed down on Caesar's Susanoo.

He gritted his teeth, exhaled, and his body flashed with light.

"Take over: Zoro!"

Multi-attribute? Big deal.

Hyorinmaru appeared and was gripped between his teeth.

His left hand summoned the Black Blade: Tessaiga.

His right clenched the Sword of Promised Victory.

"Three Sword Style Secret Technique: 3000 Worlds!"

Magic exploded from his body, merging him fully with Susanoo.

Three radiant swords circled him, slicing through the magic suppression.

Serena's Four Dragon Bloom burst like a shattered flower, scattering petals of failure.

A blinding blue flash filled Serena's vision.

Then—

Three deep cuts ripped across her torso.

Blood sprayed like rain.

Clang.

Everyone in the Council flinched at the soft, chilling sound.

They turned.

Three deep gouges had been carved into the wall behind them—straight through its thick stone, to the outside world.

Silence fell.

Then gulps.

They weren't sure their own bodies would survive a blow like that.

Caesar landed, standing tall while Serena lay sprawled on the ground.

His Susanoo faded.

He tore open a pocket of space and began devouring it to restore magic.

Serena was durable.

He had struck with killing intent, yet the guy survived.

"A dragon's physique?"

Caesar muttered.

Dragons in Fairy Tail were clearly leagues beyond those from the One Piece world.

Otherwise, Serena would've been in pieces instead of just injured.