Two Days Later – A Remote Clearing Outside Town
"Come on, Kael!"
"Laxus, don't lose! Hahaha!"
"Woohoo!" Guild members cheered from a distance, shouting and laughing with excitement.
"Kid, since you asked to spar, you go first. Let me see your strength," Laxus said confidently to Kael.
"Alright… I guess I'll get serious this time," Kael replied, removing the weighted magical training gear strapped to his body and tossing it aside casually.
"Boom~"
The ground trembled like a minor earthquake, and thick smoke instantly rose from where the gear had landed.
The guild members went silent, their eyes widening in shock—just like the Guild Master's pupils, shrinking in astonishment.
"This kid… does he always train like this? What is he carrying on his back?" Makarov's face was a mixture of shock and concern, but his worry was for Kael's well-being.
"Kael is amazing… is this the secret to his strength? I have to learn from him properly," Gray thought in awe.
"Yes! I'm fired up! Learning from Kael is totally worth it! Ohhh!" Natsu shouted, bouncing with excitement at the scene.
"You're a fine little monster, hahaha! Looks like I'm going to have fun this time too, haha!" Laxus laughed loudly, ignoring everyone else's reaction. His expression then turned serious as he beckoned: "Come on."
"Holy Light Magic: Lightspeed Kick!" Kael flashed, the ground splitting beneath him. Just like before, he appeared above Laxus and materialized, preparing a devastating downward kick.
Laxus crossed his arms above his head to block, bending his knees and grounding his power. The ground beneath them shattered violently, stones scattered in all directions, and a shockwave blew back the spectators several steps.
"Thunder Fist!" Laxus pushed upward, right fist crackling with electricity aimed at Kael—but Kael dodged with a swift sidestep. Seeing the miss, Laxus filled his entire body with magic and electricity: "Lightning Battle Armor!"
Kael stared at Laxus, reminded of the Raikage from an anime in his previous life—enhancing speed and combat ability by turning the body into living energy. Let's see how strong this really is.
Kael activated his own Armament Haki, covering his arms and legs with a shimmering purple aura, and charged at Laxus. They collided mid-air, producing a shockwave far stronger than before. Guild members skilled in defensive magic activated shields immediately.
Makarov watched in astonishment as the two engaged in a purely physical, martial combat. He noticed Kael's purple aura enveloping his fists and feet, and as Laxus gradually fell behind, he couldn't help but marvel at this new power Kael had shown him before.
Suddenly, a figure was blasted backward at incredible speed, smashing into the ground and sending clouds of dust into the air.
"Not bad martial arts, but this isn't over. Check your feet," Laxus said as he rose, brushing off dust.
Kael looked down to see a massive magic circle beneath him, lightning crackling all around, attempting to trap him.
"This won't hold me, Laxus," Kael said, attempting to break free with magic.
"I know it won't… but it can slow you down a bit," Laxus replied.
"Thunder Pressure—Skyfall Lightning!" Laxus gathered immense electricity above Kael, forming a thundercloud, and slammed his hands down. Massive bolts rained from the sky.
"Rumble—thunderstorm engulfs Kael!"
"Kael!" Gray shouted, sprinting forward.
"Gray, he's fine," Erisa blocked him. She knew Kael had strong defensive magic.
The smoke cleared, revealing Kael standing behind a glowing shield.
"Laxus, you're gentle, aren't you? Not using full power?" Kael teased lightly, unharmed.
"Tch… your defense is impressive. I was just testing—this time I won't hold back." Laxus summoned the remainder of his magic into his hands.
Kael gathered his own magic, summoning an equally intense light.
"Lightning Magic—Thunder Burst!" Laxus unleashed a terrifying energy sphere at Kael.
"Holy Light Magic—Yata-no-Kagami!" Countless beams of light shot from Kael's hands, detonating Laxus's energy before dispersing around him.
Each beam that struck the ground created massive craters, while the exploded energy formed mushroom-cloud-like dust. The residual force knocked the spectators off their feet.
When the dust settled, the flat clearing they had fought on was gone, replaced by a massive crater and dozens of smaller, uneven holes.
"That's enough. The match ends here," the Guild Master called, glancing at the destruction with twitching eyes. Repairing this would be costly, though the destruction confirmed Kael and Laxus were now S-rank standard. They would have to keep honing their skills.
Kael and Laxus stopped their magic fluctuations at the Guild Master's command.
"Tch… kid, you're strong. A little monster indeed. I know you're hiding some power. Since the old man called it, we'll spar properly next time," Laxus said with a grin, disappearing in a flash.
Kael watched him go, realizing Laxus was very much a rebellious youth.
Back at the Fairy Tail Guild…
The members returned, buzzing with discussion over the fight. The guild quickly returned to its usual noisy state. Kael sat in an empty spot, patiently answering Natsu and Gray's endless questions. Laxus lounged on a sofa, eyes closed, unconcerned.
"Kanna, what's on your mind? Why are you sitting alone?" Erisa asked, noticing her playing cards quietly by herself.
"I…" Kanna hesitated, glancing at Kael unconsciously.
"Kael, Kanna wants to talk to you," Erisa called out.
"Ah… no, Erisa, it's not—" Kanna froze, unsure what to say.
"What's wrong, Kanna? Do you need help with something?" Kael asked gently, sitting across from her.
"I… I want to learn magic from you, and that dark power…" Kanna hesitated, then finally blurted it out.
"Of course, Kanna. You can join Natsu and the others," Kael said, ruffling her hair.
"I said no ruffling! I'm grown up, and you're only a few years older—stop acting like an adult," Kanna said, flustered, brushing his hand away.
"Alright, alright. Go play with Natsu and the others," Kael replied, then turned to Erisa. "If you have no tasks, you can try learning as well—at the back mountains of the guild."
"Understood," Erisa nodded.