Charles had, in truth, underestimated him. Laxus's growth had exceeded expectations—especially that lightning attack, which showcased just how much his magic had evolved.
As expected of a main cast member—he'd achieved such tremendous growth in such a short time.
But now Charles had gotten serious, and the fire of battle burned intensely within him.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!"
Charles swept his arms wide, unleashing a massive wave of fire. Even before the flames reached him, the heat forced Laxus to squint.
"Lightning Dragon's Grand Jaw!"
A thunderous beast made of lightning opened its maw, devouring the sea of fire in a single gulp.
Laxus charged through the blaze, fist crackling with lightning, and threw a powerful punch at Charles.
"Magic Domain—Dragon's Nest!"
Charles activated his magic domain. Behind him, Laxus seemed to glimpse a massive dragon of fire roaring skyward.
His lightning magic instantly lost control, and even the dragon scales on his body looked ready to shatter.
"I'm… a Dragon Slayer too!!"
Laxus roared, forcefully suppressing his berserk magic and continuing his assault.
But Charles's attack was already upon him. A flaming dragon claw kick knocked away Laxus's fist, followed by a punch that sent him flying.
"Lightning Dragon's Halberd of Heaven!"
Laxus rapidly conjured lightning halberds, hurling them one after another at Charles.
Unlike the earlier versions that became lightning cages, these now acted like explosive warheads, boasting tremendous destructive power.
Clearly, Laxus hadn't just increased his magic reserves—his technique and battle finesse had also improved.
Charles zigzagged across the ground, dodging the missile-like halberds.
Unable to land a hit on the elusive Charles, Laxus was forced to fire "Lightning Dragon's Swift Fang!" again to keep him at bay.
But that spell consumed an immense amount of magic—especially within Charles's domain, where the cost became exponentially greater.
Laxus understood the situation wasn't in his favor.
When planning this "game," Laxus had considered the possibility that Charles might return—but his pride had told him that after training, he had already surpassed him.
What he hadn't expected was that the gap between them was even wider than before.
Yet this truth only made Laxus angrier.
And for Dragon Slayers, emotions—especially rage—were the best catalysts.
Now enraged, Laxus's dragonification deepened. His scales became clearer, and his pupils turned into draconic slits.
Charles noticed the change and said, "You still can't face your true feelings, and all you rely on is anger?
But Laxus—compared to what truly matters, anger always has its limits!"
"Shut up!!"
Laxus couldn't hear a word. Wrapped in lightning, he charged again.
"Guess I'll have to beat some sense into you!"
Charles met him head-on, their fists crashing into each other's faces.
Charles grinned despite taking a hit.
A man still lost in confusion can't throw a punch with weight behind it. Who do you think you're gonna beat like this?
In Laxus's shocked eyes, Charles's flames roared even hotter, and the punch he threw carried overwhelming power.
Laxus spun through the air and crashed through rows of pews, embedding himself into the wall.
"This can't be! The gap can't be this big!"
Laxus staggered out of the wall, dazed and disbelieving.
Charles shook his head. "How many times do I have to say it? This isn't just about strength."
"Save your lectures!!!"
Laxus lowered his body, and a golden magic circle formed beneath him.
Charles mirrored the stance, saying, "If words won't work, I guess I'll use something more direct!"
A red magic circle opened in front of him.
"Lightning Dragon's—" "Fire Dragon's—"
"Roar!!!!"
Lightning and fire burst forth from the two circles, colliding in the center of the cathedral with thunderous force.
…
Elsewhere, Erza, who had broken free from Evergreen's petrification magic and defeated her, was rushing toward the cathedral with the others.
Among the Thunder God Tribe, Freed had been taken down by a fully powered Mirajane, and Bickslow had lost to Gray. With Evergreen also defeated, only Laxus remained.
But as the group approached the cathedral, a massive explosion of lightning and fire erupted, tearing the roof clean off.
Erza froze. Her first thought was that Master Makarov was going to blow a fuse. The cost of repairing the cathedral alone would probably give the old man a heart attack.
"Is the master going to lose his mind…?" Erza muttered.
When she turned around, she realized Lucy had voiced her exact thoughts.
And judging by everyone else's nodding heads, they all shared the same sentiment.
The truth was, no one really saw Laxus as an enemy. But his behavior this time had gone too far, and wanting to knock some sense into him felt justified.
Still, in such a tense moment, their thoughts had drifted… for reasons unknown.
Erza looked back at the fire overwhelming the lightning. She seemed to understand something.
Though she hadn't known Charles for long, he had already proven himself trustworthy. With a dependable comrade like him, it was only natural to feel at ease.
Laxus, meanwhile, looked ferocious. Even with his immense magic, he was clearly running on fumes.
Charles, on the other hand, seemed to have endless reserves—his flames relentlessly suppressing Laxus's lightning and eventually blasting him away again.
Oddly, as Laxus felt the searing flames hit him, beyond the pain… he also sensed warmth.
But to him, that warmth was a form of humiliation.
"You're holding back! Are you pitying me?!"
Laxus stood again and struck a special pose.
A dazzling light began to shine, and he shouted, "I will never lose! As long as I have this magic—this magic that proves Fairy Tail's strength!!"
Charles looked calmly at him. "You're right. That magic does represent Fairy Tail's true strength. So go ahead—show me what you've got!"
"Laxus! What are you doing?!"
Erza and the others arrived just in time and instantly recognized what Laxus was preparing.
"You cowards… along with Fairy Tail's weakness… shall all be erased by this spell! Fairy Law—activate!!"
The group rushed forward, but Charles stood his ground, completely calm—because the outcome had already been decided.
Brilliant light filled the cathedral, blinding everyone. When their vision returned, they all checked themselves—
"We're not hurt?!!"
While everyone stood in confusion, Charles sighed and explained:
"Fairy Law casts judgment on those whom the user perceives as enemies. It only harms those the caster truly sees as foes."
Natsu clapped his fists together. "Knew it. That idiot Laxus never saw us as his enemies!"
------------------
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