A/N: Sup guys, wiErD here, and I've got another chapter for you all.
Hope ya like it!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for my plots. Everything else is owned by Hiro Mashima. Support the official release.
- The Destructive Showdown -
The entirety of the stadium fell silent as all eyes turned toward the two fighters in the arena. Not a single one spoke as the exhilarating cheers of the crowd instantly died down and were replaced with anticipated silence. It was one of the matches they were all looking forward to. Although the span of seven years made them forget about them, the reputation of both mages resurfaced in the minds of everyone present. Reminding them of their past glories that cemented them as one of the most renowned mages across Fiore.
The entirety of Domus Flau watched as the staredown between them continued. Some wondered about the outcome of the fight since they both came from the same guild. The question of whether they would fight against each other seriously weighed in their minds.
Do they have the will to fight against each other despite from the same guild?
Or would they make a pathetic attempt at fighting each other?
Of course, some people knew that there was already an ongoing rivalry between them but the majority of the spectators still held doubts. And while that was true, there was no missing the fact that their standoff was needed as much as to two mages below.
Natsu and Laxus both had known each other in the past and had fought against each other at one time. However, that was already seven years ago. A need for a rematch was necessary.
There was no telling just how much they improved themselves before this fight.
And right now, this match might just give everyone that answer.
Laxus stared at his opponent for a good few seconds despite the match having started already. Natsu didn't seem to be eager to start, noticing a lack of sudden attacks coming from him. If he was still the same Natsu as back then, he would've done so without a second thought.
Always reckless and without a plan. His instinct to throw the first punch always led him to lose a fight prematurely.
It was still a strange sight to see his matured version in front of him now. The last time he saw the hotheaded dragonslayer was during that time when they battled together at Tenrou.
What came afterward was that seven years had already gone by and the world had left them behind.
It was kind of amusing to think that he was now a year older than him. Part of him changed throughout the years but the fighting spirit stayed the same or perhaps grew further. He wondered just how he would fare against him now that he was pretty much on the same level as him in terms of power. That last event required a teamwork-based approach than simply brute strength. And to be honest, he wasn't fully satisfied.
The two hadn't encountered much often and always anticipated their next fight to be somewhere in the near future. The fight eluded them many times but now...
This battle could just be the thing that they were waiting for.
The two stood at a fair distance from each other. Their eyes locked onto each other, sparing no effort from any distractions around them. Their focus and concentration were sharp and people could feel the intense atmosphere hovering above them. Any chance of letting their eyes wander off in just a fraction of a second would result in an opening.
That's how they were trained as mages.
The bell had already rung but they hadn't made any sort of moves as they stood in their original positions while the crowd stood watching in suspense. A hollow gust of wind took over the scene, accompanied by an enormous pressure of excitement, anticipation, and thrill that all culminated in this one great match. Even the commentators themselves somehow forgot to speak from their microphones and do any commentary.
It was as if this battle was meant to be watched with few words.
Mages from other guilds stood watch of the impending match with different views of their own.
Sting and Rogue observed expectantly from the Sabertooth side as both dragonslayers finally had the chance to see the fire dragonslayer in action. As far as they could tell, they hadn't seen him go all out. Of all the years they confronted each other, he never once released his flames unless it was necessary. They never saw his fighting style, his breathing, his capability, and the extent of his magic power. He never showcased it except only once and that was years ago.
They both wanted to ascertain if the so-called Salamander of Fairy Tail was something to be reckoned with.
And in this match, they would hold witness to it.
Sting continued to grow feelings of animosity after remembering the losing sensation of their previous battle.
The memory of their fight from the last event was still fresh in his mind. And the display of domination against him made him realize his place. It looked to him that he wasn't even worthy of facing him.
'Even though he was just a first-generation dragonslayer.'
He forced his teeth to grit harder as his frustrations grew.
Rogue, on the other hand, observed his dragon twin but decided to keep silent as he watched him seethe inwardly towards the person who he had eyes on ever since the start of the games.
He had no personal grudge with fire dragonslayer for that matter although as a fellow dragonslayer, he had every bit of effort to prove his generation's superiority over the previous one. Plus, his beef was pressed to someone else.
His eyes turned towards the distant terrace and focused on a single man.
A few seconds went by and he decided to turn his attention back to the stadium.
There are chances for him to battle against him. All he has to do is to wait.
Meanwhile, members of both Fairy Tail teams observed the match carefully as they watched them face off against each other.
With the two having nothing to make any sort of movement as well as the lack of any magic pressure hanging around in the air at the moment, they took the chance to discuss their thoughts on the match.
"Who do you think is gonna win?" Gray muttered as he crossed his arms with an anxious look. His finger tapped into his arm repeatedly, feeling uncertain despite the hype going around the match between the two. As much as he wanted to see this fight unfold, he could not think about who was going to have the upper hand in this fight.
This was the second time they faced each other.
Moreover, his question lay somewhere along the lines of fighting your fellow guildmates to the full extent of your abilities. Even coming from him who'd been at odds with the pink-haired dragon mage for so long, Gray felt like something more important was being laid down the line. It was not the usual banter they always had in the old days. No, it seemed more personal.
This was why he could not help but view this match as more than a competition.
It was not only him thinking about the match. Beside him, Erza was also staring seriously at the scene with a different thought.
"I think both of them have either the same equal amount of chances to defeat the other. Natsu has improved his training in the proceeding years while Laxus's experience as an elite mage and veteran fighter made it almost an even ground for a match. Honestly, I don't know who's going to come out strong in this." Erza made her piece as she joined in the conversation.
She probably said it from the standpoint of having lived and fought two mages at some point. She saw them fight and both had the tendency to see things through to the end. Their tenacious nature together with their abilities and magic made them formidable opponents to almost anyone.
A small chill went up to her spine as she thought about the structural integrity of the coliseum.
It is gonna hold up, right? Right?
"I'm probably more concerned if the organizers have some backup plan when this place blows under." She muttered.
"THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT?!" Lucy sweatdropped, overhearing her statement.
"So we'll just have to wait and see, huh?"
"Yeah."
They both looked back in anticipation as the participants had slowly begun the match.
...
At the arena, Laxus stared intently at the pink-haired mage with interest. The level of seriousness plastered on his face showed his maturity. He was not the same reckless mage that he met on that island. However, there was something off. A small grin formed on his lips as he softened his expression to speak.
"You've changed, Natsu."
Hearing a rather unusual response, the other dragonslayer couldn't help but look confused but still managing his guard up. He also took the time to remove his battle-ridden expression to answer back. "What's this all of a sudden? Are you trying to let my guard down?"
"No. That's not it. I'm still amazed at just how much you've changed since the last time I saw you years back. You've grown stronger. This match might just be the perfect chance for me to see how far you've become. You've been looking forward to this, right?"
Natsu let out a toothy grin as he heard his words.
"More or less. I've been wanting to beat you ever since you returned. Guess it slipped my mind at some point." He confessed.
Laxus laughed at his response. "Still the same as ever when it comes to your head, eh? I thought Wendy would've helped to improve that over the years."
"What's she got to do with this?" Natsu glared, seemingly confused about how the blue-haired dragonslayer was brought up all of a sudden. Though it seemed like he won't be getting an answer from him.
"Why don't you go find that out yourself, idiot? Poor lady. Having to put up with you all these years."
"Are you mocking me?"
"If it gets you to take the hint then maybe." He smirked again with a slightly sarcastic tone. "Seriously, if there's one thing that didn't change, it would be your inability to be aware of others' feelings."
Natsu felt the need to respond back but his words caused him to pause entirely. His mind began recalling the moment between him and Wendy earlier.
"And you're already open."
Those words were the last thing Natsu heard when his instincts kicked into gear albeit too late it seems.
At that moment, Laxus was already in front of him. Lightning sparks left on his trail as he quickly closed the distance between them. The people gasped in shock at the sudden development. The match was already decided before any developments could occur.
Natsu widened his eyes as soon as he found himself confronting the lightning mage. His tall body crowded his own. He was so lost in thought that in those few moments, he immediately knew he was in trouble. Still, he tried every bit of his senses to act in response to his approach no matter how late it was. As a result, he made a backstep to create another distance from him. Strangely enough, Laxus didn't follow up any kind of attack and simply stood where he was.
An attack at that moment would give him trouble. Considering Laxus, he could've delivered a powerful strike to his unguarded body. So why didn't he?
Natsu skidded a few meters away as soon as his feet landed back on the ground. A couple of voices from the audience soon bellowed on the sidelines as soon as they saw action.
"Showoff," Natsu muttered. His words didn't escape unheard from the lightning mage.
"Judging from that reaction, you don't look like you are ready to fight me. You're starting to disappoint me, Natsu." Laxus sighed with a tone of sarcasm in it. It felt like he was being taunted.
"Hah?! We're just getting started!" He roared back.
"That's more like it." Laxus smiled, noticing the fired-up response. "Seems like I was right to give you a wake-up call. However, in a real fight, it would've been my win."
Natsu never said anything. Instead, he expressed his frustration in the form of an annoyed look.
Still, Laxus was right. If he hadn't stopped and simply gone on for the strongest attack right off the bat, the match would've been faster than the last one. Sure, he would be able to tank it but he wouldn't be able to maintain his consciousness at that time which would decide the match. He hated to admit it but it hurt his pride knowing that Laxus just gave away his chance at victory.
"Oh, but don't go thinking you can win just because I spared you. I have plenty of chances to beat you senseless, Natsu. You may as well call this a lesson from your S-Class trial years ago." As if to answer his thoughts, Laxus continued where he left off.
"You wish. I will admit that you got me. However... There won't be any chances for you." Natsu said, letting none of his feelings cross his mind and focusing on the battle.
"Now we're talking. Can't have you looking pathetic in front of your girlfriend."
"Shut up already!"
The two dragonslayers stood facing each other. Their words now drowned in silence as their conversation finally came to an end. From here on out, their fists would do the rest.
"Let's do this, Salamander."
At that moment, the atmosphere suddenly changed.
As the people watched them from above, the two mages began releasing their own respective magic as two sides of the arena were filled with flames and lightning surrounding their figures. Wind soared ferociously at the intensity of the magic pressure as the whole arena suddenly felt the burst of magic illuminating the battle below. The clash of two destructive elements in the known world collided with a thunderous introduction. The air swirled violently as both auras of red and yellow grew visible in their eyes.
It was as if both dragonslayers were trying to overpower each other with just their magical pressures.
Makarov was utterly surprised how the pink-haired mage was able to deliver the same response as the lightning mage. Despite witnessing it firsthand during his spar with Gildarts a few days back, he never really grasped the true extent of his power until now.
A chilling thought came across him regarding the arena being smashed to pieces if an all-out fight erupted between them. He guessed that the organizers might have something prepared for any measures needed to keep the place safe from their―urhm... recklessness.
He was not the only one who was also surprised by it. Other mages from other guilds stared in utter disbelief at the power of the dragonslayers. The pressure they were emitting was almost that of a Wizard Saint, maybe rivaling Jura who was thought to be the strongest human mage all in Fiore.
After what seemed like an eternity, both auras of two dragonslayers suddenly dispersed and at that moment, Natsu and Laxus had dashed straight towards each other with their fists drawn back while being coated in their own respective elements.
A cloud of dust was left behind their trails as they both closed at each other.
The covered distance between them vanished in only a fraction of a second as they swung their fists forward.
*BOOOOOOOOOOM
As their fists collided, a powerful shockwave blew past them, going as far wide as the whole arena which the audience felt in the process. Shocks of awe and disbelief went across their faces as they experienced the force of the blow through their bodies, igniting the excitement that reminded them of what they came for in this match. Their voices were still held down to their throats as the anticipated match finally started.
A booming sound rumbled through the air as streams of fire and lightning clashed violently from the center where the two mages were located. The ground beneath them curved at the force erupting from their fists. Both stood in their positions, trying to overpower each other in the process.
Realizing not being able to overcome each other in strength, the two recovered their distance. But at the moment, Natsu had inhaled air into his lungs as he intoned his words to call out a spell. His face shot towards the indomitable man as if he was already there waiting for his move. Nevertheless, he was poised to continue.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" With a short release, a burst of flames spewed out from his mouth as it traveled straight towards the lightning mage at fast speeds. An intense raging firestorm ravaged the path, incinerating anything caught in it. The roar was huge enough to be seen by the spectators and they could feel the sudden change in temperature, indicating its heat intensity.
Meanwhile, Laxus remained standing on his spot. His body movement found no signs of dodging the incoming spell. Instead, he took one step back on his one foot, turning his body slightly sideways and exposing his right portion where his free hand was located. It seemed like he decided to confront the attack head-on.
He could've coated himself in lightning to avoid it with his speed with ease. There was no need to stand there as the spell itself could still injure him despite his durability. That's how he respected Natsu's power. He knew that because he acknowledged his opponent's strength. He never underestimated him so he knew the result if he failed to dodge that spell towards him.
However, he also had the confidence to overcome it. Just as how he acknowledged Natsu's abilities, he also acknowledged his own. He didn't want to shy away from confronting his opponent head-on. After all, there were both dragonslayers regardless of the generation. Their nature to fight head-on overcame their instinct and training.
With the next gesture, he proceeded to stare at the massive fire in front of him. He was not the same guy who fell at the hands of Purehito. He acknowledged the vast world of its mages far stronger than him, magic mastered far better than his understanding, and techniques honed better than his own. He was just another mage in a vast world of spectacular mages.
Yet despite all that, he still had room for improvement.
That was the reason why he trained.
To become stronger than anyone, to master his magic, and to further develop his techniques.
And now, the fruits of his training were tested before him. He was about to prove it now.
He merely raised his right hand with his fingers stretched as well, forming a hand chop gesture. Sparks swirled around the arm as he swiftly swung it down just as the flames approached him.
"Dragonslayer's Secret Art: Roaring Halbert!"
In a split second, a huge bolt of lightning burst forth from the hand, splitting the roar in two like butter.
Natsu felt his eyes open wide in shock as he saw the bolt of yellow lightning flash in front of his eyes. As the roar was easily halved, the direction of the lightning mage attack zipped past it and went towards him with such lightning speed which caused him to raise his hands a little too late as his entire being was engulfed by a blinding flash.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
A thunderous explosion resulted as all eyes widened in shock at the sudden quick turn of events.
The fire dragonslayer was nowhere to be seen in the dust cloud that formed from the explosion. A powerful tremor shook the entire arena for a short while, witnessing to the audience the terrifying display of attack Laxus had just unleashed.
Mages from other guilds watched in complete disbelief as they barely accounted for the events that transpired in those few minutes of exchange between two combatants, especially that last attack. The speed at which it happened was so fast that in just a few seconds right after the pinket released his roar towards his opponent, he was suddenly engulfed in a lightning flash with the roar split in two.
Erza couldn't even believe the speed of the attack that even with her experienced eyes, she was barely able to witness the whole scene. The result of Natsu suddenly being engulfed in a thunderous cloud was the only thing seen by the untrained eye in that moment of exchange.
She later realized why Laxus didn't bother dodging the spell at all. He was betting on deciding the whole match by channeling his magic only to his hand where the concentration was its most powerful. And due to the property of his magic, it further amplified its deadliness for a counterattack. Something that the fire dragonslayer couldn't expect.
Even so, it was also too early to decide the match.
The redhead knight knew that as she turned her head towards Wendy who was calm throughout the first stages of the match. The battle was still far from over.
At the arena, Laxus narrowed his eyes as soon as he saw a shadowy figure from the smoke where the pinket once stood.
With the dust slowly dissipating in the wind, the figure became clear as all observers gaped from their mouths at the sight of Natsu emerging from that powerful blow. The only thing prominent was the sore injury coming from both his arms which he used to shield himself from the blast.
The clothes, however, weren't spared as it was seen in tatters, except for the scaly scarf that seemed to have been able to withstand the lightning bolt directly.
Any mage would've been knocked out straight or even heavily injured himself in that kind of attack. A collective wave of chills suddenly went down to the audience, shuddering at the thought of these people just walking it off.
But then again, that's what makes them even more excited as cheers grew louder.
And finally, for the first time, the commentators did their job as the fight went to a short halt.
"WHAT AN INTRODUCTION! Fairy Tail A Team, Natsu Dragneel is still standing even after taking Laxus' lightning attack! What an unbelievable endurance!"
Meanwhile, Natsu took a brief moment to examine himself. He knew that the years of training had given him the edge to even withstand the most powerful of attacks thrown at him. This, however, surprised him. Knowing too late the strength of that spell, he knew he could only guard himself. He didn't know that Laxus had something like this in his arsenal of spells.
It was certainly one of his most powerful attacks, judging from the tiny strain coming from the lightning mage's body as the spell seemingly took a considerable amount of magic in him to be released. Unfortunately, he still wouldn't underestimate him even if it's just a little fatigue. There was a reason why he was considered to be one of the people who could stand toe to toe against Gildarts several years back.
Laxus was still a monster in terms of magic power and abilities. And his training these past three months further strengthened him a whole bit. Needless to say, this match wouldn't be that easy for him.
Still, his excitement only grew despite the current state he was in.
"You're tougher than I thought." He heard him speaking to him.
"Geez, pulling out your trump card right off the bat, eh? If I hadn't expected it at the last second, I would've been toasted. Seriously, what part of me did you think was tough to take that hit? Are you trying to kill me or what?" He retorted.
"Well, at least you're still able to speak after that." Laxus pointed out, a smirk coming off his lips. "Looks like you still have some energy to spare."
"It's easier than feeling sore with my hands now. I"ll have to return the favor somehow." Natsu shook his hands, trying to shake off the pain in the process. After that, he quickly balled them into fists as he turned his attention back toward the lightning mage.
"That's a tall order, Natsu. Can you keep up?" He taunted.
"Watch me."
Another pair of dust trails kicked off from their positions as their figures disappeared into a silver blur. Within moments, a series of shockwaves boomed across the arena as the two dragonslayers met up in close-quarters combat. They went out in a flurry of attacks consisting of fists and kicks that were barely traceable from the sidelines, resulting in thundering booms that indicated each of their exchange.
Fists swung back and forth.
Kicks were deflected in return.
Successive parries between them continued.
Successful jabs were thrown.
At times the two figures would clash all over the place as their barely traceable figures appeared, albeit for a moment in the lacrima-powered screens for the normal folk to see. Their faces morphed only to that of shock as they watched in dumbfounded fashion at the two combatants fighting with such ferocity and raw intensity unlikely that of a human being. They were fighting like real dragons.
Of course, this wasn't a literal representation of the genuine being. However, the feeling still stood for most of them as if they were watching two monsters fighting each other for dominance. Every attack had an impact that would've been labeled as finishing moves to the average onlooker.
The ferocious exchange was unlike they had ever seen in the previous matches.
It was a fight that took everyone by surprise and it was just only getting started.
A hook from Natsu managed to get through Laxus' defense as it connected right into his face, sending him upward as the stalemate came to an end. That moment sparked a big reaction from the crowd as they watched him get flung into the air though he managed to recover just in time before raising his right hand in the process.
Lightning sparks danced around his arm as it closed tight into a fist. He stretched the electrocuted hand forward where his rival dragonslayer was approaching him for a follow-up attack.
"Lightning Dragon's Breakdown Fist!" With a shout, a lightning wave in the shape of a massive fist burst out as it traveled down towards Natsu at fast speeds.
At that moment, Natsu simply engulfed his whole body in flames as he confronted the attack head-on.
A soaring trail of fire approached the oversized lightning fist as people witnessed the whole scene unfold.
"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn" In response, Natsu called his own spell he sped up his momentum towards the spell, undaunted by its large appearance.
Upon contact, the fire dragonslayer was once again engulfed in a thunderous explosion. Compared to the last one, it wasn't massive but the attack delivered such intensity that it slightly rumbled the air around them. The entire coliseum watched in shock as they felt the slight tremor traveling across the area. Yet their eyes couldn't turn away from the battle as it was still far from over. The cloud engulfed the two figures in the air, concealing the fight for a moment.
Meanwhile, Laxus watched as the dust cloud around him obscured the pinket from his sight. He conjured lightning all over his body to suspend himself in mid-air, waiting for it to settle. His eyes narrowed in caution as the lack of his presence continued, seemingly disappearing for a moment. He could not sniff out the scent from the explosion which left him momentarily blind to his opponent's whereabouts.
However, this suspicion was cut short when his instincts kicked immediately, causing him to lift his head above as he saw a shadow getting bigger around his figure. His eyes were blinded momentarily by the direct light of the sun as he was forced to shield himself for a moment. Unfortunately, this moment of inaction on his part caused him crucial seconds to dodge the incoming clasped fists aimed at his face. As a result, he was forced to simply lift both his hands but was quickly overpowered by the momentum as he was sent crashing back to the ground in the process.
A small dust cloud kicked up as a result but Natsu was relentless as he coated his right hand in flames to connect his next attack. Red hot flames surged high from his back as he descended down to punch the downed mage for extra measure.
Laxus managed to regain himself just in time to coat himself in lightning and zapped away as a flaming meteor fist slammed violently to the ground, exploding another massive dust cloud. He then proceeded to swipe his right hand as four massive bolts of lightning appeared above him as he began his attack. Sparks of electricity surrounded the four large bolts, indicating their potent power.
"Lightning Dragon's Thunderbolt!" With a shout, the bolts quickly zapped towards the dust cloud and generated four consecutive explosions within where the pinket was supposedly located.
A few seconds passed and his eyes widened as he jumped to the side, avoiding an enormous roar of fire blasting towards his position. The whole dust cloud immediately cleared at the spell's release, revealing the pinket in the process, seemingly untouched by his spell just moments ago. He didn't take the time to idle himself as he zapped forth and approached his opponent at blinding speeds to attack.
Natsu, on the other hand, did not attempt to move away, knowing that he couldn't outrun his opponent's lightning speed. In response, he let him get close to him as he watched him with his sharp eyes. Relying on his instincts was the best option that he had at this moment in the fight.
He watched as Laxus broke away from his lightning form just a few inches as he aimed for a fist towards his face. He arched his body backward to avoid the deadly hand before recovering just in time to intercept a right kick aimed at the same place. If he was the same Natsu seven years back, he wouldn't be able to anticipate it.
Another series of parries took place as Laxus kept zapping away and then approaching him to attack while Natsu expertly deflected every one of his blows while connecting his counterattacks to force the lightning mage to break off the exchange. Years of fighting and training made him more than just an expert close-quarters combatant. Coupled with the further use and mastery of his magic, he became one of the most efficient fighting mages in the guild and was considered dangerous to both hand-to-hand and long-range combat.
As a result, he was able to preserve his excessive use of his magic and simply used his immense physical prowess to fight evenly against the lightning mage. Before, he was always combining his physical prowess and dragonslayer magic to exercise maximum damage on every one of his attacks against his opponents which left him visibly exhausted without external replenishment. It was a disadvantage that he acknowledged when reviewing his battles in the past. He learned to think past his straightforward approaches and adapted to using them at the most crucial moments while also improving his magic altogether.
And with it, he became one of the most powerful mages that could go toe-to-toe against other high-ranking mages of his time. However, due to the obscure relevance of Fairy Tail over the years of its momentary decline, most people never witnessed his fighting strength with only a few exceptions that personally faced him in the past. Even his alias faded into obscurity once his presence on the mages' powerboard slowly vanished.
It was only remembered as soon as people watched this match.
The infamous Salamander that once roamed around Fiore had come back. And it was hungry for more.
Laxus grunted in frustration as he found himself unable to force the pinket decisively at a corner. Every attempt he made to attack was met with opposition from the salmon-haired mage. He barely even used his fire magic and relied on his physical strength to defend himself against his lightning attacks. It was clear that simply using his basic lightning powers wasn't enough to force his opponent to get serious.
However, it was evident in their minds that their whole fight so far had only been trying to probe each other's capabilities. Laxus made a quick assessment to know his opponent's fighting ability by unleashing that powerful attack in the first few minutes of the match. However, it seemed like he was starting to realize that he wasn't just someone who only grew strong.
Landing from a safe distance away from Natsu, he then proceeded to tap more into his power as he clasped both hands together.
"Let's take it up a notch. Eh, Natsu?" He shouted at him as ten spherical lacrimas appeared around him and ascended in a circular formation above the arena.
The lacrima orbs instantly shocked Natsu and the rest of the Fairy Tail members who saw this spell once again. A sense of dread filled their faces as a particular memory emerged from their heads as they saw these orbs floating around the arena.
It was not a fond remembrance to most of them who were there on that day. Even Makarov was surprised to see it again in his own eyes. He didn't think that Laxus would use this spell again on this occasion.
"Wait. Isn't that―"
"Thunder Palace?!"
"Thunder Palace?" Wendy looked towards Erza and Gray for answers whose expressions seemed to indicate that they knew something about it. The two, realizing that the girl wasn't a member during that time, simply looked at each other with complicated expressions.
Moments later, Erza turned her attention back to the bluenette to explain. "There's a bit of history of it before you joined the guild, Wendy. You remember what I told you about why Laxus was excommunicated from the guild back at Tenrou."
"Yes." She nodded.
"Well, this is the reason. This spell is once used by him to force Gramps to hand the guildmaster position to him. It's a nasty spell that is used to destroy Magnolia when activated. Of course, it didn't go off thanks to everyone but it's different now. It's not as many as before but it's still the same one he used. I just didn't expect Laxus to use that right off the bat to beat Natsu." Erza bit her lip in worry as she watched at the sidelines towards the pinket.
Meanwhile, Natsu continued to stare at the lacrima orbs surrounding the arena which were floating high above the arena. Even the people and the commentators were surprised by this sudden turn of events. The prevailing silence of the crowd continued as they seemingly felt the immense amount of magic circulating on every one of the orbs above.
Mages who were able to sense it more clearly narrowed their eyes at the sight of those orbs. They could feel the amount of lightning magic encased within those lacrima orbs that they could not help but baffle by just how Laxus managed to create them in just a matter of seconds. It was a highly advanced type of magic that probably took years to master. And to even think that he was able to supply them with his own magic just showed just how much power he had now despite missing seven years of his time.
The pinket glanced back towards the lightning mage with a serious look. "What is this, Laxus?"
"Well, we had our fun testing each other. I think it's time we should take this match seriously from now on." He balled his fists as he looked at him with the same response. "No more pulling our punches this time, Natsu."
"Come, Salamander!" Laxus taunted.
The pinket crouched for a moment, his facial expression was well hidden from his hair locks. There was an audible pause between them as Laxus looked on in confusion after noticing him not making a single move towards him. Every second delayed will be his defeat if those orbs came crashing down on him simultaneously.
"Looks like this is as far as you can go, Natsu." He tried taunting him but it didn't give him any response.
After a few seconds, Natsu lifted his face towards Laxus. "AS IF!"
A confident look was visible in his expression as he poured flames all over his body and shot out into the air. He then stopped as soon as he was on the same level as the lightning orbs floating around the arena. Laxus looked up, realizing what he was about to do.
"Don't underestimate me!" Natsu shouted as he shot multiple fireballs from his mouth, each aimed at the lightning orbs which subsequently destroyed them almost immediately. All ten orbs were destroyed by him which shocked Laxus and the rest of the guild who were watching from the sidelines.
As soon as he landed down, ten massive lightning strikes struck him with such force that created a crater due to the impact of the spell. The crackling sounds and blinding flashes of lightning forced spectators to look away from the sight, coupled with the powerful forces brought upon by it. However, Natsu didn't yield and simply stood despite him getting electrocuted. He absorbed all the lightning spell all to himself which further damaged his clothes and his body in the process.
There was silence in the stadium as soon as the lightning strikes were finally over. The dust settling at the center revealed Natsu still standing with his feet without any signs of falling over. The damage and scratches were visible all over his body yet he was still steadfast. He already received two of the lightning mage's strongest spells and yet he was able to stand tall.
Laxus was taken aback and couldn't help but act surprised.
"There's a limit to being stubborn, you know." He said, his eyes looking a bit more serious than before. It dawned on him that there was still an aspect of him that never changed.
On the other hand, Erza and the others were just as shocked as Laxus was during the exchange. She and the other mages were surprised at how Natsu was able to withstand that much power from Laxus. After all, Laxus was still a powerful mage despite the years that had gone through. His power was not to be underestimated. He was able to cast one of Fairy Tail's grand magics and still able to fight fully with magic to spare. His one advantage over the other mages was the vast magic pool he possessed. They had seen that firsthand after witnessing him managing to duke out powerful spells one after another without a sweat.
However, that was not the issue. Natsu being able to take a hit from Laxus's attacks was already an impressive feat but to withstand it numerous times was suspicious. There must be some kind of trick that he pulled to be able to take it all without consequences. Granted, he didn't escape unscathed but it seemed like he received less damage than expected.
Erza turned towards Wendy for answers.
"How is he doing that? It can't be just his training, right?"
Wendy looked at her with a cold sweat. Her expression looking that of a person who failed to inform something important to her friends. As she was the only person who lived and trained with him, it made sense that she knew the answer.
"Well..." Wendy hesitated for a moment. "...Let's just say Natsu right now is a bad match for Laxus."
"Huh?"
...
Back at the two, the fight soon halted between them as Natsu and Laxus began examining each other's capabilities.
"To think that you would take it all in. I see that some things just never change in you, huh?" Laxus mused.
"I could say the same to you. You are seriously trying to kill me here, aren't you?" He gave a sarcastic chuckle.
"I don't know what you're talking about." There was a slight indication of sarcasm in his tone of voice despite the stoic denial in his words together with a suspicious smile on his face. "Anyways, is talking we're all gonna do here? You do know there's a time limit here. At this rate, we might end up in a draw, you know."
"Heh, I wish but right now, I'm not gonna let it end that way."
"Is that so? Shall we continue?"
"You don't need to ask!"
Natsu flared once again in flames as the battle between them resumed. His eyes locked onto the lightning mage who started to pour out more lightning sparks on his surroundings, showing his immense pool of magical reserves.
Laxus floated in mid-air as dust and particles danced around the intensity of his magic. His right arm stretched, seemingly calling out his next move.
The pink-haired dragonslayer fiercely pierced the ground with both his hands as he intoned his spell before he could act.
"Fire Dragon's Rising Fang!"
The ground beneath Laxus cracked, catching his attention for a short while before a click on the tongue was heard from his lips as massive flames erupted from the cracks and blew upwards. The lightning mage retracted his attack and boosted up in the air to avoid the flames. The flames soared as high as even onlookers outside the stadium could see a glowing light from the center of it.
Laxus locked his eyes back to the crouching pinket with a drawn fist. Lightning sparks burst around his arm, morphing into a fist coated with lightning.
"Lightning Dragon's Breakdown Fist!"
Natsu wasted no time and withdrew his hands back fast enough to call out another spell.
"Fire Dragon's Ironfire Fist!"
A variant of his signature move, Fire Dragon's Iron Fist. This move was a mimic of the spell Laxus had put up just now. Conjuring a fist clad in flames, he met up against his opponent as they clashed once more.
The lightning mage gaped in surprise as the fire version of his spell collided with his own, resulting in yet another explosion that sent both fire and sparks around the vicinity while the audience stood in awe and shock at the battle going so far.
As soon as the dust cleared, he stared at the fire mage in anticipation. A clear determination was written on his face as he moved to his stance as their eyes met, not sparing any second of openings from him.
Laxus had never seen this kind of expression from him. He realized how high Natsu held him in that regard as a rival. Even looking back, he had always aimed to surpass him even when he first thought of him as a pebble in the side. Now, that thought would haunt him as he saw him in front of him, fighting and keeping up with him. And this time, he would be surely giving everything he's got to bring him down.
There was no need to hold back against him anymore.
Standing a few meters away from him, Laxus stood his ground as he grabbed his black coat and finally threw it in the air.
"THERE IT IS! THE CLASSIC COAT THROWAWAY! FAIRY TAIL B TEAM, LAXUS IS GONNA GET SERIOUS FROM NOW ON!" Lola commented as soon as they witnessed a change in the battle's atmosphere with him taking note of the lightning mage's actions just now.
A couple of 'oohs' and 'whoa-s' erupted from the silent crowd as they witnessed the whole scene.
Natsu narrowed his eyes in caution as he noticed the sudden shift of his opponent's movement. His face was completely unreadable from the distance, giving an uncomfortable feeling like that time when he first revealed himself as a dragonslayer for the first time with him and Gajeel. It wasn't identical but the feeling was similar to that.
With his coat on the ground, Laxus remained only with his black pants and his purple shirt. After a few moments, he lifted his fierce gaze towards Natsu before disappearing into a blur. The ground under his feet shook, leaving a trail of sparks behind.
The pink-haired mage widened his eyes as soon as he lost track of the opponent. He moved his eyes in all possible directions but saw nothing. Then just a second past that exchange, he lifted his right hand before he could lay his eyes in its direction as he came into contact with a lightning kick aimed at his face. Without the proper stance to withstand it, he was thrown up from his feet but not before recovering the next second as soon as he got his bearings. However, there was little time for him to idle as he braced himself for another spell coming above him.
"Lightning Dragon's Roaring Ray!"
A beam of lightning was shot out of the lightning mage's mouth, hitting behind his back which sent him crashing to the ground. His shirt now torn at the back as the pinket quickly rose to his feet to avoid a follow-up attack.
Gaining his composure, he stared at the rival dragonslayer in front of him whose magic is going off the limit to which he had never seen before. This was nothing like the fight he, along with Gajeel, had experienced back then.
His speed and his lightning-fast abilities are way too quick for him to trace with his senses.
This is Laxus at full strength. One that might as well rival that of Master's or even perhaps greater.
Meanwhile, from outside spectators, the brief exchange was enough to send them all into a state of disbelief as all cheers died down at the sudden change of the tide of battle. Even the dragonslayers of Sabertooth remained utterly shocked after witnessing Laxus' lightning performance. Someone they regarded as a fake who was capable of doing this much had caused their credibility as true dragonslayers to crumble inside them little by little.
They knew that in their current state, they wouldn't be able to defeat this guy alone.
On the battlefield, Natsu and Laxus had gone to a standstill as the former observed the latter with extreme caution.
"What's wrong, Natsu? Still not busting out your full power?" He heard him shout in the distance as he watched with care.
He made a quick assessment of his current state. The spell didn't give any serious game-changing injury but the pain searing on his back was still there as if the aftereffects of the lightning somehow crawled into his body, slowly paralyzing him.
'Is this one of his tricks?' He thought.
They've been battling each other in the last game and ended with a stalemate. If this is his true power, then it won't be easy as punching through victory with just brute force. He hated to admit it but he was stronger than him at this moment.
"If you're not moving then I'll go in first!"
He heard him speak and without a moment to waste, Laxus had once again disappeared in a yellow flash. Trails of sparks were left in his wake as he zipped through space at such speeds that shocked him once again.
'His speed increased again?!' He thought out in disbelief as he failed to counter a bone-crushing fist smashing on his right cheek that sent him stumbling before another one punched him squarely on the other cheek. At that moment, a series of lightning punches began firing off at different parts of his body as Laxus kept attacking in different directions with such speed that even mages from the outside couldn't see through the pattern of attacks except for a few ones.
Natsu raised his hands in a desperate effort to guard himself against the punches but Laxus kept coming at him by attacking his openings without mercy. Every punch was dealt with a decisive blow that could knock out a single mage in battle and the pinket isn't entirely built on extreme endurance. He could only hold a couple of hits but the amount of attacks Laxus kept pounding on him was just too many and strong.
Barely blocking a right fist, he was sent flying before receiving a follow-up punch right again that sent him crashing to the ground as a result.
People watching the battle ensue could only stare in complete awe and silence as the pinket seemed unable to respond to the fierce lightning attacks sent towards him. It was clear in their minds who the winner of this match would be.
Laxus waited for the dust to settle as he looked down on the ground where his fist connected to the fire dragonslayer. Soon afterward, the smoke cleared and finally revealed the downed mage who was lying on the ground with his face still in touch with his fist.
The lightning dragonslayer thought differently about how it would turn out if he really went serious with the fight.
"Is this all you got, Natsu?" He said with a slight tone of disappointment. He figured that he would at least put up a fight when he unleashed all his powers. Maybe he was expecting too much from him.
At that moment, he heard him respond. "Quit talking, you bastard!"
As he said that, Natsu grabbed his hand with his own, surprising Laxus in the process. Additionally, he was caught off guard at the sight of the smirk plastering over his face as if the earlier attacks haven't registered to him yet.
"Don't go telling me to kick off the bucket yet. I'm not yet done with you!"
Soon flames erupted around his body as Natsu circled it around his arm that grabbed onto Laxus'.
"Don't tell me―"
"I got you where I need you to be, Laxus."
The ground shook as Laxus couldn't let go of the grip. A large spell was activated on the ground as the field began to glow in red, surrounding the two. A massive swirl of magical energy circled the arena as the ground cracked. Without letting go, Natsu quickly intoned his move.
"Dragonslayer's Secret Art: Crimson Lotus, Exploding Flame Blaze!"
A massive dome of fire rose from the ground, collapsing its very foundation as the audience shielded their eyes from the heat and the powerful shock waves emitted by the massive wall of fire. The arena itself was simply engulfed in flames as signs of the two combatants were nowhere to be located due to them being swallowed up as well.
The pillar of fire rose as high as the big statues of Domus Flau, enough to be seen by both Ultear and Meredy from the far side of the Mercurius.
Members of the other guilds stood in complete disbelief as soon as the fire dispersed, revealing a large abyss of the arena where the ground once had. The spell had obliterated everything resulting in this massive hole that not only surprised viewers but also the announcers as well.
"O-Oi oi... Are you serious?" Gray couldn't believe what the fight had turned out. The sheer amount of magic and force blasted on that move was something he had not seen even during the sparring fight with Gildarts.
This level of power could cut close to Jura or even greater.
Their minds would soon revert back to the two mages who seemingly disappeared within the hellfire. There were no signs of them even after the spell was released. The audience had all their mouths gaping wide open at the spectacle but after a few seconds of silence, a new wave of cheers erupted.
"UUUUUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!"
"WHAT POWER! NATSU HAD JUST RELEASED A POWERFUL SPELL AND DRAGGED THE MIGHTY LAXUS ALONG WITH IT!"
Even the commentators could not hold their excitement, though they paused soon after as they focused on observing the development of the battle so far.
"Lacrima visuals will be up soon for the continuation of the fight. It looks like the battle will be resumed from below the stadium. However, there's no sign of both mages around. We'll be tracking them soon enough."
The crowd waited as large lacrima screens appeared from each section. A short wave of awe gathered amongst the spectators at the magnificent magic. However, they've yet to see the two mages as they're all static at the moment.
Seconds later, it was not long before they managed to track the lost fighters as the screens popped up for the first time, revealing a new battleground below the arena where two figures could be seen standing a few meters away from each other. The dust slowly cleared and after a few moments, they could finally see them.
On the screen, Natsu and Laxus were both putting on heavy breaths as their current states indicated significant injuries. Their bodies were littered with scratches and burnt marks, and their clothes were torn from their upper bodies, leaving them exposed. They can't seem to stand up straight as the strain on their bodies alongside the present injuries in their bodies made it difficult to do so.
Laxus, however, had it worse as the fire left burnt marks all over his body as he took the full brunt of the spell on his own. He had trained his body so much that some spells would render him immune to it without the help of his own magic. He had always relied on his strong physical prowess as he would only worry about taking damage from physical attacks.
This fight proved that his body couldn't resist Natsu's flame in its strongest form. No matter how much he would strengthen himself even with the help of his lightning, he wouldn't escape unharmed from it.
And it looked like he paid the price for it.
He tried catching his breath for a while though he stumbled afterward, trying his best to recover as much as he could along with magic. He looked back at the pink-haired dragonslayer who seemed to have the same idea as him. He caught a glimpse of his glare towards him, probably irritated at the fact that he was still standing.
"I'm surprised... I should've expected this from you, Natsu."
"Same to you... Seriously, are you a monster or what? That was my strongest spell yet."
The two expressed their disbelief at their powers. However, it was enough to decide the match.
The damage to their bodies was heavy. Natsu looked at the Laxus who was trying to regain his footing. Markings on his upper torso, specifically to his arms, suddenly shot his eyes wide.
"You... You used Dragon Force?"
"As you can see, it didn't do much. If I didn't enter into this form, I would've lost to you." Laxus replied.
"Damn it. It's just one after another when it comes to you. It makes me wonder which one of us is actually stronger." Natsu laughed dryly to the point of sarcasm. He just couldn't believe it.
This guy is really something else.
To think that he managed to use it moments before that spell was just too much. Usually, it would take a bit longer for one to enter into that form. At least that's what he experienced when he got into that form.
However, that was not his biggest concern.
His eyes confirmed it when he saw him finally able to stand once again. Lightning sparks crackled around his figure, his stance indicating another bout as he held a hand to taunt him. Despite his injuries, he was still able to conjure magic just like that. It almost seemed like he was fighting a mage with an almost limitless magic output. Coupled with his powerful magic and abilities as a dragonslayer, Laxus had proven himself to be the most formidable opponent he had faced so far.
The pressure coming from him just kept on intimidating him to submission. Anyone with a low resolve would surrender after gazing through those eyes.
But that was just what Natsu wanted. This was the third time he had felt this since back at Tenrou. The first time was with Gildarts and then with Acnologia. This time, it was him. He couldn't ask for a better person to make him feel this way. His foe was notably stronger than him in terms of experience. There was no denying it.
The fear that he felt back then returned once more. The fear of being powerless.
Natsu feared losing. He always had. The incident at Tenrou showed the reality of his extent of power. The feeling of not being able to protect those close to him at that time scarred him. He didn't reject it. He took that to heart and acknowledged that fear. He acknowledged his powerlessness. That he wasn't able to save everyone and moved on. That's why he vowed to become stronger for everyone during that time.
For her.
Facing Laxus was one of the many obstacles he wanted to overcome. To show that he hadn't been powerless for the past seven years. He wanted to show him that he would be strong enough to protect everyone this time.
To do that, he must surpass him.
Standing back straight, Natsu faced the lightning mage with a clear expression. His eyes showed nothing but fierce determination.
"I see. It really wouldn't be easy to beat you after all. I guess it wouldn't take more than just that to bring you down." Natsu said.
"Well, I learned from a certain idiot who once drilled that stubbornness into me." Laxus smiled.
"Even so, I'm not gonna stop. I will beat you right here, Laxus."
"Can you do that with your current state right now, Natsu?"
"Well, in that case..." He paused as flames engulfed his body. "I will have to use everything in my power to surpass you!"
Soon lightning sparks crackled around him as well, joining the flames as if they had combined into one single magic which caused the pressure of the magic in the surrounding area to intensify. Dust and tiny rocks floated around him as the crowd watching him held their faces agape. The pressure came as far as to be felt by a normal person who felt the power unleashing from within.
Mages stood watching in caution and vigilance as soon as they felt the power from the fire dragonslayer. The sudden influx of magic filled the entire stadium and all mages including the guildmasters jolted into caution as their bodies reacted sharply at the power unleashed below.
Erza opened her eyes widely, recognizing the form. Wendy, on the other hand, was watching silently. Her face indicated a tinge of wariness as she too recognized this power all too well during her time with him.
"That's..."
"Lightning Flame Dragonslayer."
...
A/N: And that wraps the chapter. I know this is late and I have no excuses whatsoever for not posting for the past several years. The reason is simple. Writer's block and some ideas in my head were lost so I had to brainstorm my lazy brain to get it all back somehow. I've also focused on my studies and had just about taken steps to next milestone in life, job hunting. Oh, and there's the pandemic thing which greatly affected my mental health last year. So basically, I got busy. T.T
Anyways, some things I wanted to say. As you can see, my writing style from the last chapter may look different from what it is now so there are bound to be some difficulties linking the last chapter to this one. If not, then I guess it's not a problem. I'll probably do some cleaning on the previous chapter to better fit this style of writing (Adding some paragraphs to explore character thoughts and depth, etc.) once the story finishes. Perhaps I might start on it early on if I had the motivation.
That's all for now. Thank you guys for reading. I'll see you in the next chapter.
- The wiErDos send their regards -