Natsu's challenge to the newbie quickly drew the whole guild's attention.
"Natsu versus that Aurel, huh?"
Wakaba puffed on his pipe and stroked his chin, glancing at Macao across from him.
"So? Gonna watch?"
"Feels like it'll be boring. Laxus didn't last three minutes against the newbie—if it's Natsu…" Macao paused, then added, "He won't even take one punch."
After all, the guy's aura alone had cowed the entire guild yesterday. Macao didn't want to imagine the pressure Laxus had felt facing Aurel head-on.
If it were him, he'd have surrendered on the spot.
"So are you going or not?" Wakaba blew a smoke ring, pretending nonchalance. "Not many saw the fight yesterday, you know."
"Then let's go. I want to see the newbie's strength again."
Macao's eyes lit up, and he stood without hesitation.
— — —
They chose the back garden as the battlefield.
As word spread, nearly everyone poured out to watch. A scantily dressed onee-san even hugged a barrel and, tipsy and grinning, started a betting pool.
She scrawled "Natsu" and "Aurel" in the air with a light-pen and shouted:
"Place your bets! Natsu pays 7:1, newbie pays 2:1!"
"Two to one? That's hardly worth it!"
"Aye, I'll put 8,000 J on Natsu!"
"Oh? Looks like Cana's got a lot of faith in the newbie!"
Plenty who hadn't seen yesterday's fight were baffled by the odds.
"Well, the newbie's my type, so I'm giving you all a little more payout," Cana said, cheeks flushed as she cupped her face atop the barrel.
"This woman… too crafty."
"Yeah, she even wrote 'newbie' instead of his name on purpose."
Cold sweat broke on Macao and Wakaba. They traded a look—then slammed down wads of cash.
"He's a newcomer, so as senpai we should boost his confidence. Ten thousand on the newbie!"
Worth noting: they placed their bets after most folks had bet on Natsu.
And then—
"Ten thousand on Aurel," Mirajane said with a bright smile.
"Same as Sis—Aurel," Elfman added, looking away, a little sheepish.
A bit shameless, really.
"Didn't expect everyone to be this hot on the newbie. I'll bet on him too," Levy said with a light cough, quietly pushing over a fat stack. "Two hundred thousand J."
"Max bet is 50,000 J, Levy-chan," Cana said calmly, lifting a rules placard she'd already prepared.
As more people piled onto Aurel, the stragglers sensed something was off.
"Why's everyone betting on the newbie?"
"Hah, you don't know?" Warren scratched his head after placing his money. "Yesterday, Aurel beat Laxus with ease."
"Hold up—beat who!?"
Laxus's name set the Natsu-bettors ablaze.
"Cana, can I switch my Natsu bet to Aurel?"
Happy thought hard for a few seconds, then asked decisively.
"Nope. All sales final," Cana sang as she cheerfully refused and took another swig.
"How could you… That was all the money Natsu and I had left," Happy's eyes went glossy as he tried to move her heart.
She ignored him and sipped.
"Nice sun today."
Aurel stood at center field, looking up at the dazzling light with a soft sigh.
It was just after ten—short of his peak, but plenty.
"Since Laxus lost to you, I'm going all out," Natsu said with a wild grin, dropping into a low stance as crimson fire roared over his fists.
"By all means."
In the next instant, Natsu sprang like a leopard, right arm cocked as the flames blazed hotter.
"Fire Dragon's… Iron Fist!"
Aurel didn't move—until the punch fell. Then he tilted aside, and the burning heat skimmed past.
Too slow.
What seemed fast to the crowd looked slowed by dozens of times to him.
"Click—fast reflexes!"
Missing clean, Natsu twisted, his left leg snapping up in a flaming whip toward Aurel's head.
"Fire Dragon's Tal—what!?"
His eyes flew wide as Aurel caught the kick in one hand. The flames might as well have been for show—no effect at all.
This guy doesn't feel heat!?
Before Natsu could process it, Aurel's backlit figure vanished like a mirage—and reappeared right in front of him.
"Keep trying, Natsu."
With a bright, easy tone, Aurel measured his strength and drove a lightning punch into Natsu's gut.
Boom—
The shock sent Natsu flying like a meteor, a thunderclap trailing as he slammed through a brick wall. Dust billowed; stacked masonry toppled in sheets.
"Damn—"
Natsu tried to rise, but pain knifed across his abdomen. After a few failed efforts, he flopped back in defeat.
Is the gap… really this big?
"Natsu!"
Happy shouted through tears and sprinted over.
"I held back," Aurel called, then added, "At least he won't be like Laxus—two days in the infirmary."
"Don't worry, Happy, I'm fine," Natsu said, wincing—touched by the cat's watery eyes.
"That's not it… I lost all our money," Happy mumbled, turning away.
"What!!"
Just then, a scantily dressed woman sauntered up to Aurel and, all too familiar, slung an arm around his shoulder.
"Thanks, newbie," Cana said, breath sweet with grape wine.
"Made plenty of drinking money thanks to you. How about big-sis takes you to a fancy lunch?"
"Hey—Cana, what are you doing!?"
Seeing the too-friendly scene, Levy's eyes flew wide. She hurried over, pried the two apart, and puffed her cheeks in protest.
Even as fury flared at Cana, she couldn't help a sidelong glance at Aurel.
Was her boyfriend… too popular?
One Loke in the guild was plenty!
(End of Chapter)
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