Erza followed along, joining the crowd that had already formed a circle in the guild's backyard clearing.
In the center, Natsu was bouncing with excitement, warming up his limbs. Orange-red flames danced around him like living creatures, illuminating his battle-hungry face and casting light on Gray's cold, smirking expression across from him.
"You droopy-eyed jerk, you're done for!" Natsu roared, launching the first attack! His right fist, wrapped in blazing flames, shot straight toward Gray with no finesse whatsoever.
Gray's eyes reflected the flickering red firelight, his smirk deepening.
As expected, he thought. This guy hasn't learned any real combat skills—just reckless charging. Even his magic power feels as weak as it looks.
With a nimble half-step to the side, Gray dodged, the fiery fist grazing past his nose with a scorching gust.
At the same moment, his own right fist, already clenched and coated in a thin, razor-sharp layer of frost, surged forward with bone-chilling cold, aiming precisely for Natsu's unguarded jaw!
"Ugh!"
At the last second, some primal battle instinct screamed in Natsu's mind! He jerked back just in time!
WHAM!
The heavy punch meant for his fragile neck instead slammed into the edge of his chin!
"Pfft! Cough… That hurt!!" Natsu stumbled back, clutching his jaw, tears welling from the pain. He'd bitten his tongue hard against his teeth.
Glaring at Gray, he slurred furiously, "You jerk! If you've got the guts, stop dodging and fight me fair and square!"
Gray's pupils narrowed. Just pain?! That punch should've knocked out an average wizard cold! This guy's body is freakishly tough! Though his magic was weak, Dragon Slayer magic had clearly forged his physique into something extraordinary.
For some reason, ever since he first laid eyes on this pink-haired punk, Gray felt an inexplicable irritation. Now was the perfect chance to teach him a lesson, fair and square!
"Fine," Gray said, his eyes glinting coldly. He surged forward like an arrow, closing the distance in an instant.
"Let's fight 'fair and square'!" Before his words even landed, his ice-coated fist, carrying a frigid gust, smashed toward Natsu's flaming punch!
BOOM!
Ice and fire, cold and heat—two opposing forces collided violently! Red and blue light exploded, scattering tiny ice shards and sparks in all directions!
"Hiss—oww!!" Natsu yanked his hand back, grimacing and shaking his fist, which was numb from the cold and throbbing from the impact. His tanned skin was red and swollen.
"You jerk!!" Natsu's rage ignited fully. Ignoring the pain, he roared and charged again!
But the gap in combat experience was a chasm.
Gray moved with ease through Natsu's wild, chaotic attacks. Every precise dodge or block was followed by a sharp counterattack!
Ice fists, ice elbows, ice kicks—each collision drew a grunt from Natsu, leaving another bruise or frosty mark on his body.
The crowd's murmurs grew louder:
"Man, the newbie's no match for Gray."
"Obviously! Gray's got that contract with Roger! You've seen how hard he's been grinding missions lately. It'd be weirder if he lost to a rookie!"
"I thought Dragon Slayer magic was supposed to be legendary. It's a lost magic taught by a dragon, right? But it doesn't seem that strong…"
"Shut up!" Natsu wiped the blood trickling from his mouth, glaring toward the voices. "Igneel's Dragon Slayer magic is the strongest!!" Ignoring his pain and battered state, he conjured more flames, charging at Gray like a wounded but fiercer beast!
Watching Natsu's reckless rush, Gray sighed, his battle fervor fading.
Time to end this. All this guy's got is big talk. Fighting him is boring.
He raised his right arm, ice magic pooling rapidly in his palm, ready to deliver a final blow and end this lopsided spar.
But at that moment—
WHOOSH!
A burst of crimson flames erupted under Natsu's feet! The explosive recoil sent his already fast charge into overdrive! His figure blurred, closing the gap to Gray in an instant!
"What—?!" Gray hadn't expected this move. His pupils shrank, and he instinctively stepped back, his charged attack interrupted!
"Heh heh! Now's my chance!" Natsu's eyes gleamed with cunning and glee. A fiercer flame erupted from his right elbow joint!
Propelled by the violent burst, his fist, glowing like a red-hot iron, screamed through the air and slammed into Gray's poorly guarded cheek!
THUD!
A dull impact! Gray's head snapped to the side, and he staggered back several steps before steadying himself. A red mark bloomed on his cheek, and he tasted a faint hint of blood.
"Haha! Gotcha! I sent you flying!" Natsu crowed, chin up, hands on his hips. "See that?! My Dragon Slayer magic is the strongest!!"
Gray wiped his thumb across his mouth, a faint smear of red on his fingertip. It stung—a pain that echoed what Cana had told him earlier.
If that punch came from an enemy, I'd probably be half-dead right now… just like back then.
Gray took a deep breath, cold air filling his lungs, calming his churning emotions.
Guess I need to get some armor soon. He grabbed his shirt and yanked it off!
Rip!
His clothes flew to the ground, revealing his bare torso and the clear Fairy Tail emblem on his chest.
Frigid air spread from him, condensing the surrounding moisture into tiny ice crystals.
"Natsu, playtime's over," he said coldly.
His right hand opened, palm up at his waist, while his left fist rested steadily atop it.
Visible icy blue mist swirled like a living thing, pouring from where his hands met! The temperature plummeted, and a thin layer of frost began forming on the ground!
"You jerk! Calling this playtime?!" Natsu's anger flared. Flames ignited under his feet, ready for a fiercer charge!
But as he lunged—
Buzz!
A complex ice-blue magic circle flashed beneath him without warning!
[Ice-Make: Prison]
Crackle!
With a sharp sound of freezing, several thick, shimmering blue ice pillars shot up from the ground, weaving into a sturdy ice cage that trapped Natsu inside!
"Whoa!" Natsu had no time to react. His forward momentum sent him crashing into the icy bars with a CLANG, stars bursting in his vision as his forehead turned red.
"Ow…" Natsu rubbed his throbbing head, grabbing the ice pillars in frustration. "It's just ice! Watch me melt it all!"
Flames roared to life in his palms as he pressed them against the bars! Orange fire licked the blue ice, hissing and sending up clouds of white steam that clouded his view.
Seconds later, the flames died out.
"Huh?" Natsu's eyes widened, staring at the ice pillars in disbelief. Aside from a few shallow water streaks and lingering mist, the cage hadn't budged—not even a hint of melting!
"Why didn't the ice melt?!"
Gray crossed his arms, strolling up to the cage. He looked down at Natsu through the bars, a mocking smirk on his lips. "Do I even need to say it?" He dragged out his words deliberately.
"Your Dragon Slayer magic is nowhere near my Ice-Make magic."
Support me by leaving a comment, voting, and visiting myPatr-eon at belamy20