Noah and Gildarts released their magic power at the same time.
The ground trembled as the surrounding stones slowly floated into the air. Cracks split across the earth, and even the forests and the very air seemed to quake. High above, clouds twisted and raced across the sky, while waves on the shoreline surged violently outward.
Their magic energies collided with explosive force, the shock creating waves of wind that rolled outward in expanding rings, like ripples on water. The blast was so strong that even the guild members watching from a safe distance were forced back several steps.
"Not bad, Noah," Gildarts said with a note of approval. "Your magic power is impressive stronger than most S-Class wizards I've seen in other guilds. No wonder the old man agreed to let you take the S-Class exam."
"Of course," Noah replied, his voice steady as he continued pressing his magic against Gildarts. "I train every single day never once stopping."
Laxus, watching from afar, clenched his fists. "Tch. I've never seen Noah use magic that powerful before…" His tone dripped with frustration.
"That's because he doesn't need to go all-out when fighting you," Cana commented casually beside him.
Laxus's jaw tightened, his face twisting. "Damn it…"
The clash of magic between Noah and Gildarts reached a stalemate, both pushing but neither overpowering the other. In unspoken agreement, they ceased at the same moment.
"God Break!"
A massive golden magic circle flared into life before Noah. From it, an enormous beam of golden light erupted, roaring toward Gildarts.
Gildarts' right hand glowed pure white. He stepped forward, calmly raising it to meet the oncoming blast.
"Crush!"
Where his hand touched, the beam fragmented into countless tiny grids, rapidly dissolving from the point of contact all the way back toward Noah, until the light dispersed entirely into raw magic particles that faded into the air.
"Continue!"
The golden magic circle in front of Noah vanished only to be replaced by four equally massive circles behind him. Four beams of light burst forth in succession, all targeting Gildarts.
"This is good," Gildarts said with a grin, "but still not good enough."
His right hand moved in perfect rhythm with the attacks, pressing against each incoming beam in turn. One after another, they shattered into grids, breaking down into harmless motes of magic before they could reach him.
"Let's try close combat, then!"
Realizing that ranged magic wasn't working, Noah drew his magic inward, coating his entire body in a dense golden aura and gathering even more in his fists. Light blazed from his knuckles as he charged forward, closing the distance between them.
Gildarts didn't move to dodge. Instead, he simply waited.
Noah closed the gap in a burst of speed, driving his right fist straight toward Gildarts' face.
With a single motion, Gildarts caught it in his right hand.
Noah immediately followed up his left fist rising sharply in an uppercut toward Gildarts' chin.
Gildarts twisted, shoving Noah's right hand aside with an outward sweep, leaning back just enough to let the uppercut pass harmlessly by, then straightened and brought his right leg up in a swift, forceful kick.
Noah crossed his arms in front of him to block. The impact pushed him back, and he used the momentum to widen the distance, skidding before regaining his stance.
He adjusted his footing and launched himself forward again, striking with a flurry of blows. But each attempt was met and countered Gildarts knocking him back every time.
If Noah hadn't reinforced his entire body with magic power beforehand, and continuously fed magic to resist the effects of Gildarts' own magic on contact, he would have been finished long ago.
From the feel of it, Gildarts wasn't using his magic's full destructive power. It seemed to be a decomposition type rather than shattering which meant Noah wouldn't be obliterated in one hit. Still, the idea of being split into countless miniature Noahs wasn't something he wanted to test.
"Your close combat's not bad at all," Gildarts said with a smile.
"Of course," Noah replied, adjusting his stance with a smirk, "I train every day. And with Laxus as my regular punching bag, my close combat's not bad either."
"Damn it! Who's the punching bag?!" Laxus, who had been watching from a distance, roared in outrage. He made to charge forward, but Makarov caught him by the collar before he could take a step.
"Oops, he heard that." Noah didn't even glance back, speaking casually to Gildarts. "Doesn't matter let's keep going."
"You two have a pretty good relationship," Gildarts chuckled.
"Not bad," Noah said, before taking a deep breath.
In an instant, dozens of magic circles bloomed into existence behind him, each one shining with power. If close-range couldn't break through, then he'd win through relentless ranged firepower. This time, he wouldn't hold back.
"That's a little over the top," Gildarts remarked with mild curiosity. "Aren't you worried about missing with so many?"
"Not at all," Noah answered. "All my attacks have lock-on and tracking. I don't waste my shots."
The next moment, the magic circles roared to life. Dozens of light cannons screamed forward in a dazzling volley, converging on Gildarts. With that many coming from every angle, dodging was nearly impossible.
Gildarts calmly pulled his cloak around him, channeling magic power into the fabric until it shimmered. He raised it like a shield as the barrage crashed into him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The continuous detonations shook the ground. Smoke and dust billowed, the sky flashing with each impact. The relentless assault lasted several minutes before Noah finally lowered his hands, ending the spell.
As the haze cleared, Gildarts emerged, his cloak frayed and scorched but he stood completely unscathed.
Noah narrowed his eyes. "So this is the strength of Gildarts… He really lives up to his reputation." From the feel of it, Gildarts' power was at least just shy of Makarov's, maybe even on par.
"Noah, you're incredible too," Gildarts said honestly. "To have that much magic at your age… I can only imagine how strong you'll be when you're older."
"I just have a bit more magic than most, and my recovery's good," Noah replied, his tone sharpening. "Gildarts we've gone at this long enough. Let's end it with one move."
"Fine by me," Gildarts said, his eyes gleaming. "Let's finish it."
Noah clasped his hands together.
Far above, a colossal magic circle formed in the sky, the Fairy Tail emblem blazing at its center. Below it, smaller circles appeared in rapid succession, stacking down through the air until they hovered directly over Gildarts' position.
A heavy pressure blanketed the area. Gildarts' body tensed, his waist bending slightly, his boots sinking into the cracking ground beneath him.
"What kind of magic is this…?" Even with power still to spare, Gildarts could feel the weight pressing on him.
"First, it locks on to the target and applies multiple effects tracking, gravity, deceleration, weakening anything to keep you from escaping," Noah explained. "Then it gathers all that energy into a single, absolute strike from above."
"You made this yourself?"
**"You could say that. It's not perfect yet, but it's my strongest attack. Take it Starlight Burst!"
A golden pillar of light as wide as a tower plummeted from the heavens, piercing straight toward Gildarts.
Gildarts' eyes narrowed. Summoning all his magic, he shattered the debuffs clinging to him in an instant, but the beam was already upon him.
His right hand shone blinding white as he drove his fist upward.
"Destroy evil and reveal righteousness in one day!"
Fist met light with a thunderous impact. For a moment, they held two forces locked in deadlock. Then came the explosion.
BOOOOM!
The shockwave ripped outward in concentric rings, uprooting trees, sending seawater surging away from the shore, and blowing even distant guild members off their feet.
When the dust finally engulfed the battlefield, both figures were lost from view. The air was heavy with magic, and the outcome… unknown.