The guild members fell silent as the tension peaked.
Natsu and Kevin exchanged intense glances; his instincts told him that Kevin's power was immense, yet this only fueled his excitement.
Hoo!
Flames erupted from Natsu's hands as he assumed a combat stance.
"Excellent! Now I can fight with everything I've got!"
"Start!" Makarov declared.
"Wahoo!!!"
Natsu stomped forward, flames swirling around his fists as he lunged at Kevin. Kevin stood casually with his hands in his pockets, seemingly unfazed. Just when everyone thought the outcome was certain—
Whoosh!
Kevin's form vanished, reappearing behind Natsu in a blink, delivering a kick to his back.
"Ugh!"
Natsu stumbled forward, caught off guard.
"So fast!"
"Is that Teleportation Magic?"
To the onlookers, it appeared as though Kevin had teleported behind Natsu.
Makarov shook his head, "No, it's not Teleportation but a highly advanced high-speed movement technique. The speed is so great it seems like teleportation."
Makarov was astounded. The speed was incredible; only a faint afterimage betrayed Kevin's path, distinguishing it from true Teleportation, which leaves no trace.
"What?!"
Salsuk was astonished. Known for his incredible speed, Kevin surpassed him; it was extraordinary.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Natsu quickly regrouped, flames wreathing his fists as he attacked.
Kevin raised his left palm.
Clang!
Natsu's fiery fist collided with Kevin's palm.
Expecting Kevin to be pushed back, everyone was shocked to see him stand firm.
"He blocked it?!"
Natsu's Iron Fist, known for its destructive power, was easily halted by Kevin's hand. Was Kevin a monster?
Kevin gripped Natsu's fist, swinging him effortlessly.
Whoosh—!
Natsu was sent flying uncontrollably.
"Ugh ah ah!"
Crack—!
Natsu crashed into a boulder.
He quickly stood, inhaling deeply as he gathered magic in his throat.
Kevin pointed a finger at Natsu, condensing emerald Reishi into a high-density energy sphere.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!!"
Whoosh—!
A fiery storm surged towards Kevin.
"Hollow Flash!"
"Buzz—Whoosh—!"
A beam of emerald energy shot from Kevin's finger, meeting the flames head-on.
Boom—!!
The clash of crimson flames and emerald energy created a massive impact.
"Wah ah ah ah!"
"Ya oh oh oh!" ... The shockwave spread, sending guild members reeling, some even blown away.
As the dust settled, a massive crater lay between Kevin and Natsu, the aftermath of their clash.
Kevin stood unscathed, while Natsu was on the ground, unable to continue.
In the previous energy clash, Kevin had clearly dominated.
"The match is decided! The winner is Kevin!!"
Makarov announced, astonished by Kevin's immense strength. Despite his unassuming appearance, his power in battle was formidable.
"The rookie actually won?!"
"He defeated Natsu!"
"His strength is incredible! He must be at S-Class Mage level!"
"Absolutely! Only an S-Class Mage could defeat Natsu!"
"What a monster!!" ... The guild members were stunned by the outcome. Kevin had won.
Though most lost their bets, the excitement was palpable. The guild had gained another S-Class powerhouse, a tremendous boon.
Kevin exhaled, dispelling his transformation, returning to his normal form. His magic power was nearly depleted; a prolonged battle would have ended in his defeat.
Yet, he was thrilled. Defeating Natsu, the main protagonist, was a testament to his power and gave him confidence.
Kevin approached Natsu, offering a hand to help him up.
Though Natsu was down, his injuries were minor. Continuing would have been futile. Kevin had dominated in speed, strength, and attack power. Admitting defeat, Natsu simply lay down.
"You're strong! Just like that monster Erza. Next time, I want a rematch."
Despite losing, Natsu's spirit wasn't dampened. It was just another opponent to surpass, fueling his resolve.
"Alright!"
Kevin nodded. Though victorious, it had been a narrow win. As a man, he didn't want to be bested, even by Natsu.
The guild members returned inside, buzzing about the thrilling battle.
Cana happily counted her winnings. Her drink money for the week was secure. Had she known Kevin's strength, she might have wagered more.
"What am I going to do? Another monster in the guild. When will Elfman become an S-Class Mage?! Oh oh oh! The path for Elfman is truly arduous!"
Elfman lamented, clutching his head. Fairy Tail was full of monsters: Erza, Mira, Mystogan. Now, Kevin too.
Gray quipped, "You talk like you'd be S-Class if not for Kevin. Truth is, you haven't even qualified to take the test."
Kevin was indeed formidable, likely to become S-Class. But avoiding him was possible, just delaying the inevitable.
Cana winced. Three years in a row, she'd qualified for the S-Class exam. First year, eliminated by Erza. Second, by Mira. Third, by Mystogan, who she never even saw.
Now, with Kevin, she'd likely lose even more swiftly. Would she have to wait another year? Her spirits dampened at the thought.