The two continued to clash, but the same result repeated itself again and again.
Fire Dragon's Claw. Fire Dragon's Wing Attack. Fire Dragon's Horn.
Natsu unleashed a barrage of his signature techniques, yet every one of them was swallowed up by Max's Sand Magic. No matter how he pushed, every strike was blocked. Even when Natsu shifted into fast-paced, close-quarters combat, Max countered with a swirling Sand Tornado that hurled him away.
"Seriously, " Happy stared wide-eyed at the scene. "Natsu can't beat Max?!"
Lucy blinked in disbelief. "Wait, is Max really this strong?"
Gray's face darkened. "If even that Max is this strong now…"
Gajeel stayed quiet, but the weight of it wasn't lost on him. He often mocked Natsu's recklessness, but in truth, he'd never thought of himself as far stronger. Was the six-year gap really this heavy?
Max twitched with annoyance. "What do you mean 'that Max'?"
He knew full well how weak he had been before, but hearing it said out loud still stung.
"Go, Natsu!" Happy shouted.
It wasn't just because he had bet a thousand Jewels on him. If Natsu couldn't beat Max, then it meant Fairy Tail's strongest generation had fallen too far behind the times. Would they even be able to handle high-level missions anymore?
Natsu staggered to his feet, sparks of fire dancing around him, his grin defiant as ever. "It's just getting started!"
He hadn't expected Max to be this strong. If he didn't get serious, he would lose.
For a moment, he considered using his Dragon Slayer Secret Art. But no, this was the perfect time to try that move. His eyes gleamed fiercely as flames suddenly burst to life in both hands. In his left, a searing black fire. In his right, a blazing crimson flame.
Elfman's eyes went wide. "That flame, didn't one of the Seven Kin of Purgatory use something like that?!"
Rhodes was surprised as well. The red flame in Natsu's right hand felt oddly familiar, not identical to the Brambleback's power he once encountered, but with a similar edge to it.
"Heh… maybe." Natsu grinned, raising both hands overhead. The twin flames merged, forming a massive fireball, black as night with veins of red running through it.
The temperature in the courtyard spiked sharply. The air shimmered, and everyone watching felt their skin sting from the heat.
The blazing sphere swelled until it was nearly five meters across. As Natsu roared, faint draconic scales etched across his cheeks, and his canines lengthened, sharp like fangs.
Max's bravado faltered. He leaned back slightly, shock in his eyes. "That power… is it real or just some bluff?"
"Take this!" Natsu thrust his arms forward. "Dragon God's Brilliant Flame!"
"Sand Wall!" Max roared, pulling every grain of sand he could muster into a barrier.
The enormous wall surged up, but the black and red inferno smashed through it instantly, shattering it like paper.
Max braced himself, certain he was about to be consumed by the flames, but at the last moment, a thin golden barrier flared before him. The fireball slammed into it, then dispersed outward, spilling waves of blistering heat across the courtyard. The ground scorched black, and everyone behind Max stumbled back, shielding their faces.
Natsu, reckless as ever.
If it hadn't been for the Guild Master's timely intervention, wait? That looked like Light Magic just now. But Makarov hadn't moved at all. Could it really have been him?
Max clearly thought the same thing. He raised one hand and said helplessly, "I give up. Thank you, Guild Master."
"Why thank me?" Makarov pointed behind him. "That wasn't my magic."
"What?" Max turned to look in the direction Makarov indicated, only to see Rhodes standing there, right arm raised, palm open as if maintaining the spell. When Rhodes lowered his hand, the golden barrier dissolved instantly.
"!" Gasps echoed around the courtyard.
Wasn't Rhodes supposed to use Summoning Magic and Take Over? At most, he had occasionally used Solid Script. When had he learned Light Magic, and at such a powerful level?
Makarov, however, wasn't surprised. This child had once managed to cast Fairy Sphere. Picking up another high-level Light defense spell wasn't shocking at all. His rate of growth back then had already been terrifying. Just how far had he advanced during these six years?
Mira slipped close, clutching Rhodes's arm tightly against her. Her heart ached all over again.
The fact that Rhodes had trained alone for six long years had already been mentioned on Tenrou Island, so Natsu didn't think much of it. He puffed up proudly instead, hands on his hips. "Ahahaha! Who's next?!"
His gaze swept across Warren, Nab, Vijeeter, and the others, curious whether his other guildmates had also grown as strong as Max.
Those caught in his sights quickly waved their hands frantically. No way, they couldn't handle something like that.
When Natsu had been struggling earlier, they had briefly entertained the thought: if Max could put up a fight, maybe they could too. Maybe they could even spar with Rhodes and recapture the old feeling of rivalries.
But after seeing that massive fireball and Rhodes's golden shield, those ambitions evaporated instantly.
Monsters were still monsters.
Getting beaten to a pulp for such a hopeless goal, only to get on Mira's bad side too? Definitely not worth it.
"Since none of you are stepping up, then I'll choose someone myself!" Natsu announced boldly. His hand shot up, pointing straight through the crowd. "Laxus! Fight me! Let's call it your welcome-back ceremony!"
Laxus had been ready to refuse, but when he caught the Guild Master's encouraging look, he paused. Slowly, he shrugged off his coat with a smirk. "Since you asked… I guess it's not a bad idea to stretch my muscles."
Freed immediately rushed forward to take the coat, folding it neatly over his arm. His eyes practically sparkled as he gazed at Laxus's back. "Go, Laxus!"
Evergreen pushed her glasses up her nose with a smug little smile. "I think you mean 'go easy.'"
Bickslow grinned, tongue lolling, as his dolls chorused after him: "Unlucky! Unlucky!"
Golden lightning began to crackle across Laxus's clenched fist. He smiled faintly, nostalgia in his voice. "It's been a long time since we've fought seriously, Natsu."
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Natsu blinked in confusion. "Didn't we just fight during the Harvest Festival?"
"That doesn't count, you idiot," Laxus laughed softly, though there was a weight behind his words.
He meant a real fight, one as comrades, not enemies. Back then, in his rebellion, he'd swatted Natsu aside like an insect. Remembering those days filled him with shame. And yet, in Natsu's eyes, no matter what had happened before… he had always been family.
Laxus's expression hardened with resolve. If that was the case, then this time, he would repay him properly, with a serious battle worthy of a comrade.
"Come on, Natsu!"
RUMBLE
Thunder split the skies over Magnolia.