Laxus's Thunder Dragon's Roar struck the sub-dragon like a raging tornado, erupting into a violent explosion of lightning. Sparks scattered in all directions with a deafening crackle, engulfing the creature in a storm of destructive energy. The sub-dragon thrashed wildly in the blinding flashes, then fell silent, unmoving.
Yet, Laxus didn't relax. There was no sign of victory in his eyes—only sharp focus. He remained where he stood, drawing in magic once more, preparing another attack.
High above, Kael hovered quietly in the air, arms folded and his cloak fluttering in the charged wind. His gaze was steady, observing the scene below.
Both Kael and Laxus could feel it through their Haki—the sub-dragon wasn't dead. Its life force still flickered faintly beneath the surface, feigning death to catch them off guard.
Lightning surged violently around Laxus's right hand as he began to condense it. The surrounding electric energy gathered toward him in a spiraling rush. The air temperature spiked, a wave of danger rolling through the battlefield. In Laxus's grip, a massive lightning weapon began to form—a radiant Thunder Dragon Halberd.
"Rrrraaaaghhh!"
Sensing the lethal intent, the sub-dragon roared furiously, no longer able to keep up the act. Its charred body trembled as it forced itself upright, hatred burning in its reptilian eyes.
From its jaws, a blinding sphere of energy began to form—an even greater charge than its previous roar. It fought Laxus for control of the ambient lightning, absorbing what it could to strengthen itself.
Laxus crouched slightly, lowering his center of gravity. His right hand tightened around the halberd of pure lightning. With a powerful twist of his body, he hurled it forward—the weapon slicing through the air at incredible speed, the edges shrieking like a banshee's wail as they tore the sky apart.
The halberd streaked toward the sub-dragon. At the same instant, the beast unleashed its thunderous roar. The two attacks collided head-on, releasing a shockwave that shook the heavens.
The surrounding air turned molten and wild, as though the world itself were being devoured by their power. Two torrents of energy clashed, weaving and tearing at each other in blinding arcs.
Kael landed softly beside Laxus, lifting one hand to cast a Light Barrier, shielding them from the surging waves of energy.
Laxus glanced sideways at Kael but said nothing—only crossing his arms, eyes fixed on the raging clash overhead.
After a tense standoff, the lightning halberd finally pierced through the sub-dragon's attack, slicing through its energy stream and driving straight into its chest. The halberd ripped through the creature, exploding against the distant mountainside. The cliff shattered under the impact, crumbling in an avalanche of smoke and fire.
The sub-dragon gave one final, broken roar before collapsing. A gaping hole still smoked in its chest—this time, there was no doubt. It was truly dead.
"Nice one, Laxus," Kael said with a grin, nodding approvingly.
"Hmph. Finally. Let's head back to Fairy Tail. That was barely worth the effort," Laxus muttered irritably. He'd expected the creature to be far stronger—ending it in just a few attacks left him unsatisfied.
Kael chuckled. "Not so fast. This place has perfect conditions for training—especially for lightning-based magic. We're staying here for a while." He pointed toward the stormy peaks around them, where the air hummed with endless thunder.
"Training... a stronger lightning spell?" Laxus frowned, tilting his head in confusion.
Kael only smiled knowingly.
A Few Days Later — Fairy Tail Guild
The Fairy Tail guild was its usual chaotic self—members laughing, arguing, and bragging about their latest missions. Suddenly, a shout broke through the noise.
"What!? Laxus and Kael aren't coming back yet? They're training to develop new magic!?" Natsu exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief.
At the bar, Master Makarov took a long swig from his mug before answering with a satisfied sigh. "That's what Kael said in his letter. Glug, glug… ah, that hits the spot."
Cana, standing nearby, looked up anxiously. "Did he say how long they'll be gone?"
Makarov shook his head. "No, but he sent a detailed training plan—for everyone. And a separate letter just for you."
He pulled out a thick, densely written parchment and an envelope from his coat, handing them to Cana. "He asked you to lead training for Natsu and Gray. Teach them Observation Haki—and keep an eye on everyone else's progress. Oh, and here's your personal letter."
When Makarov had first read Kael's training plan, even he had been impressed. The structure was meticulous, accounting for every guild member's strengths and weaknesses. It detailed how to increase Haki intensity and improve magic control with precision. Honestly, Makarov thought, even a pig could get stronger following this plan.
Kael had gone above and beyond—thinking of everything, even the details Makarov himself hadn't considered. The old man couldn't help but smile, his heart warm with pride.
Cana passed the training plan to Erza, Mirajane, Natsu, and Gray so they could read it, then looked down at her private letter. A shy blush crept up her cheeks as her imagination began to wander about what Kael might have written.
"Cana~ Kael seems to care about you a lot, huh? When did you two start getting close? Don't tell me… is that a love letter?" Mirajane teased with a mischievous grin, resting her chin on Cana's shoulder.
Cana's face turned scarlet. She fumbled for words as everyone in the guild suddenly grew quiet, ears twitching to eavesdrop while pretending not to listen.
Even Erza and Lucy looked curious, while Natsu and Gray exchanged confused glances, clearly missing the subtext.
"W-we're not like that! It was… uh, the day the S-Class exam list was posted… that's all!" Cana stammered, before grabbing the letter and dashing out of the guild hall in embarrassment.
The guild erupted in laughter and whispers.
"Ohhh, that day…" someone murmured knowingly, and the gossip spread like wildfire.
Up on the quiet hillside behind the guild, Cana finally stopped running. She sat beneath a tree, the breeze carrying the scent of the town below. Opening the letter, she read every word carefully, a soft smile forming on her lips.
When she looked up toward the distant mountains where Kael had gone, her eyes sparkled like stars—filled with peace, warmth, and quiet happiness. It was as if she'd found a safe harbor within her heart.