Chapter 169: Second Stage, Passed
Rhodes' body surged upward, his frame expanding until he stood over three meters tall. His arms, legs, head, his entire form turned to gleaming, rune-etched stone. The joints still moved like a human's, but his forearms and thighs were inscribed with ancient-looking symbols, and a glowing sapphire gem pulsed steadily in the center of his chest.
From a distance, he resembled some kind of enchanted stone giant—like a magical suit of armor designed to smash through mountains.
Boom. Boom.
With each step he took, the ground trembled beneath his heavy feet. Magic swirled around him, dense and undeniable.
Rhodes raised one enormous fist and punched to the side.
CRACK!
The mountain wall shook violently, splintering under the force. A large crack spread outward, and rocks of every size came tumbling down.
"Oh?" Laxus grinned, interest sparking in his eyes. "That's more like it."
Rhodes rumbled forward, his voice echoing with stone and magic. "Let's see you talk tough after you eat this!"
His fist, roughly the size of a dinner pot, came crashing down toward Laxus's head.
But Laxus, ever proud, didn't dodge. He met the blow head-on, punching upward with a lightning-coated fist.