Natsu moved like the wind on the battlefield, agilely leaping and trying to evade the sand arrows that rained down like a storm.
His fists swung swiftly and powerfully, spewing out scorching flames that knocked back the aggressive sand arrows in mid-air.
However, the sand arrows were like an endless tide, wave after wave, surging forward, giving Natsu no chance to catch his breath.
"Damn it! This isn't working!" Natsu roared in his heart, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, instantly turning into wisps of smoke and disappearing under the scorching heat around him.
At this critical moment, a look of determination and resolve flashed in Natsu's eyes.
He took a deep breath, as if to draw all the surrounding air into his lungs, and the magic power within him rapidly converged like a surging flood.
In an instant, crimson flames erupted from his feet, like a volcanic eruption, dazzling and brilliant.
The flames instantly condensed into a vast and magnificent sea of fire, the blaze fierce and surging, the fiery waves rolling and leaping like violently boiling water.
Immediately, this blazing sea of fire spread, and wherever it reached, the ground was scorched black, emitting sharp 'sizzling' sounds, as if the earth was groaning in pain.
Marcus had nowhere to hide in this surging sea of fire, appearing in a disheveled state from the edge of the gold sand.
Natsu seized the opportunity, a burst of crimson flames exploding from his feet, and he charged forward like an arrow released from a bowstring, his roar echoing through the sky: "Where will you run this time!"
Natsu raised his leg and kicked fiercely, the crimson flame like a blazing fireball, carrying the power to destroy everything.
Marcus reacted extremely quickly, his body instantly turning into sand, and Natsu's powerful kick passed directly through his illusory body, as if kicking into thin air.
Natsu's heart tightened when his kick missed.
"Run? I never intended to!" Marcus, after turning into sand to avoid the attack, re-solidified his body, gripping the heavy gold sand spiked club tightly in both hands, a determined light in his eyes, and swept it towards Natsu.
Natsu quickly performed an agile backflip, leaping backward.
The strong wind generated by the spiked club was like sharp blades, stinging his cheeks as if pierced by countless tiny needles.
"Close combat? I'm fine with that!" Marcus grinned, and the sand beneath his feet seemed to come alive, rapidly climbing up his legs, completely covering his body, forming an indestructible Sand Armor.
The Armor shimmered with dazzling light under the sun, every grain of sand seemingly imbued with powerful magic.
He once again raised the spiked club high, bringing it down towards Natsu with a fierce whoosh.
The spiked club was heavy and powerful, as if carrying immense force, descending with a chilling whistle.
Natsu's eyes narrowed, he crossed his hands over his chest, and flames instantly blazed on his arms, forming a scorching and solid flame shield.
"Bang!" The spiked club and the flame shield collided violently, producing a deafening roar, like thunder exploding in his ears.
The powerful impact made Natsu's knees buckle, his feet sinking deep into the ground, and the surrounding earth instantly cracked, spreading rapidly like a spiderweb, dust flying and obscuring the sky.
Marcus immediately followed up with a kick, his foot covered in thick gold sand, heavily striking Natsu's stomach.
At this moment, Natsu's hands were firmly pinned by the spiked club, leaving him no time to block or dodge, and he was directly kicked away by Marcus, who was wearing the Sand Armor.
Natsu's body flew backward like a kite with a broken string.
In the air, he performed three consecutive backflips, barely regaining his balance, finally landing steadily on the ground.
Natsu's chest heaved violently, breathing rapidly like bellows, a trace of fresh red blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
"Natsu, are you alright?" Marcus laughed wildly.
He gripped the gold sand spiked club tightly in both hands, striding towards Natsu.
Each step was heavy and powerful, and the gold Sand Armor on him shimmered with dazzling light under the sun; with every step he took, the ground trembled slightly.
Natsu smiled, he wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes burning with raging flames, and said firmly: "Of course, I'm fired up!"
Natsu took a deep breath, and half-human-high crimson flames blazed on his hands again.
The flames were scorching and bright, as if they would devour everything around them, and the air itself was distorted by the high temperature.
He moved like lightning, instantly charging towards Marcus, the flames behind him forming a long fiery tail as he rushed forward.
Marcus chuckled, a cunning glint in his eyes.
He slammed the spiked club onto the ground, producing a dull thud. Unbeknownst to Natsu, the gold sand that had covered the grass instantly condensed into a giant tornado.
The tornado howled, like a ferocious giant dragon, baring its fangs and claws as it lunged at Natsu.
The gold sand within the tornado was like sharp blades, glinting with a cold light.
Natsu was forced to halt his charge, he flashed his body, using his hands and feet to push off the ground and evade.
As soon as he finished dodging, he pushed off the ground again, a burst of flames exploding from his feet, cracking the ground and sending dust flying. The explosive force propelled Natsu to Marcus's front at an astonishing speed.
Natsu's fist, wreathed in scorching flames, slammed fiercely into Marcus's chest.
Marcus's Sand Armor cracked slightly, a tiny fissure appearing.
But immediately, fine gold sand rapidly surged forth, almost instantly filling and repairing the crack in the Armor, making it as good as new.
Natsu's fist struck it, emitting a 'sizzling' sound, sparks flying like dazzling fireworks.
However, his attack failed to break through that solid defense.
"Natsu, fall!" Marcus roared, his voice as loud as a bell.
The spiked club in his hand, carrying immense force, once again came crashing down on Natsu's head.
The spiked club cut through the air, emitting a sharp whoosh.
Having learned his lesson, Natsu dared not resist head-on this time. He pushed off the ground with his feet, performing a horizontal roll, narrowly dodging the fatal attack.
The spiked club, missing its target, struck the ground with an earth-shattering crash.
The ground instantly caved in, forming a giant crater, shattered rocks flying and dust swirling.
Marcus gave Natsu no chance to breathe, stomping his foot heavily. The surrounding gold sand instantly seemed to answer a summons, condensing into countless sharp sand spikes.
These sand spikes, like a swarm of locusts, shot towards Natsu from all directions at an alarming speed, carrying the aura of death.
Natsu's eyes sharpened, he pressed his hands together in front of his chest, and crimson flames erupted from his body, transforming him into a human torch, meticulously protected.
The sand spikes impacted the flames, instantly being repelled by the rising inferno.
But new sand spikes continuously assailed him, like an unending downpour. Natsu's magic power rapidly depleted, his forehead once again covered in sweat, and his complexion gradually turned pale.