WHOOSH—!
Raging flames burst from every pore of Natsu's body. With a sudden surge of heat beneath his feet, he launched himself forward like a rocket, closing the distance to Totomaru in an instant.
"Purple Fire!"
Totomaru shouted, desperately throwing up a wall of violet flames.
BANG!
Natsu didn't even flinch. The purple fire split around him as if it were nothing but mist. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of the samurai.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
CRACK!!
The impact was devastating. Totomaru's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. This force… he thought wildly, this isn't just magic. It's raw physical power! The Master was wrong… Fairy Tail has monsters like this?
Natsu didn't give him a second to breathe. He drew a deep, rattling breath, pulling magic into his lungs. Totomaru recognized the stance immediately. In a final, desperate move, he raised seven fingers, each fingertip igniting with a different-colored flame, then wove them together into a chaotic, swirling mass.
"Fire Dragon's… ROAR!!"
"Strongest Magic: Rainbow Fire!!"
The two torrents of flame collided in the center of the arena.
BOOM—!!
A shockwave of heat and light blasted outward, forcing the spectators in the front rows to shield their eyes. For a moment, the two spells seemed evenly matched—then Natsu let out a guttural roar.
"BREAK THROUGH!!"
The Dragon's Roar surged forward, swallowing the Rainbow Fire whole and slamming into Totomaru with the force of a falling star.
"UWAaaaaaaaah!!"
The scream cut off as flames swallowed the ring. When the smoke finally cleared, Totomaru was still standing—for a second. He was charred black from head to toe, his sword smoking in his hand.
"The Master… was wrong…"
He croaked.
THUD.
He collapsed face-first onto the stone, out cold. Natsu stood over him and raised a triumphant fist to the sky.
[THE WINNER IS DECIDED!!]
[MATCH 1 GOES TO: NATSU DRAGNEEL OF FAIRY TAIL!]
The stadium exploded. A hundred thousand people were on their feet, screaming.
"That was incredible!"
"He actually ate the fire! Did you see that?!"
"He looked like a mess at first, but that finish was legendary!"
[What a performance! This is the power of a top-tier wizard! Ladies and gentlemen, you just witnessed the legendary "Salamander" in action!]
"SALAMANDER! SALAMANDER! SALAMANDER!"
Hearing the crowd chant his name, Natsu grinned ear to ear. The bitterness he'd carried since the guild hall was destroyed finally began to melt away, replaced by pure adrenaline.
"Who's next?!"
Natsu shouted, his hand igniting as he pointed toward the Phantom Lord booth. "Get up here and get some!!"
The Phantom Lord members snarled, ready to jump the railing. But before chaos could erupt, the announcer's voice cut through again.
[Wait! A surprise move! Fairy Tail is requesting a substitution! Natsu Dragneel is leaving the field!]
"What?!"
Natsu's jaw dropped. "No way! I'm just getting started! I can take five more of these guys!"
He looked back at the Fairy Tail bench, ready to argue—then stopped dead when he met Erza's eyes. They were cold, sharp, and promised a very painful punishment if he didn't comply. Shivering, he trudged off the field.
"Kael, what gives?"
Natsu grumbled as he reached the rest area. "I was fired up! I could've swept them!"
Kael offered a small, dangerous smile.
"I know you could, Natsu. But I'm not just looking for a win today. I want a total, comprehensive crushing. I want everyone in this kingdom to see there's a wall between us and them—a wall they can never climb."
Natsu blinked, startled. He realized then that while he was loud about his anger, Kael was quiet—and far more furious.
Match 2: The Soul of a Man
In the Phantom Lord rest area, Master Jose was trembling with rage, his face contorted.
"Trash! Absolute garbage!"
Jose hissed. "One of my Element 4 lost to a brat who isn't even S-Class? This is a disgrace!"
"Relax,"
Gajeel said, casually crunching on a piece of scrap metal. "Totomaru just had bad luck. He ran into a Dragon Slayer who eats his element. It happens."
Jose calmed slightly, but his eyes stayed murderous.
"It's not just the element. That brat broke Totomaru's control in the middle of a fight. His instincts are too sharp."
He turned to a thin, flamboyant man beside him.
"Sol, you're up. I want a clean win. No mistakes. Tear them apart."
"As you wish, Monsieur,"
Sol replied with a bow.
[Phantom Lord sends out Sol of the Element 4! Who will Fairy Tail choose to face him?]
"I'm up!"
Gray said, stepping forward. "I'm not letting Natsu take all the glory."
"No,"
Kael said firmly. "Elfman, you take this one."
The group went silent.
"Wait, Kael,"
Gray lowered his voice. "You know Elfman can't… I mean, against one of the Element 4? If he can't use a full-body Take Over, he's in trouble."
Kael didn't answer. He just looked at Elfman.
The big man stood up, eyes filled with quiet, burning determination.
"I'll do it,"
Elfman said. "Because I'm a man!!"
[Fairy Tail's representative is Elfman, the "Beast Arm"!]
Gajeel sneered from the sidelines.
"Are they out of real wizards? Sending a small fry like that? Where's Gildarts? Where's Laxus? They're getting arrogant."
Jose smirked.
"Let them be arrogant. It'll make their despair taste even sweeter."
In the center of the ring, Sol struck a dramatic pose.
"Bonjour! I am Sol. But please, call me Gentleman Sol."
"I don't care what you call yourself,"
Elfman growled, his muscles tightening. "You attacked my family. That makes you my enemy!"
[FAIRY TAIL VS. PHANTOM LORD: MATCH 2!]
[START!]
CLANG!
"Beast Arm: Black Bull!"
Elfman's right arm transformed instantly, swelling into a massive, fur-covered limb capped with obsidian claws. It was built for pure, crushing power.
"Oh ho?"
Sol giggled, dancing back. "So the rumor is true, then? I know all about you, Elfman. In fact, I know every little secret Fairy Tail tries to hide."
"You talk too much!"
Elfman roared, lunging forward.