Who Was the Examinee?

Before long, Feng Lan and Natsu returned home.

The moment Natsu walked in, he asked, "Bro, what did you want to see me about?"

Feng Lan led Natsu into the living room and sat down. "You should have guessed, right? It's about that Dark Fire of yours. Tell me how it feels first."

Natsu sat down across from Feng Lan without ceremony. "Honestly, I don't really know much about that Dark Fire. Whenever I use it, I'm not fully conscious—more like I'm half-unconscious."

Feng Lan grew even more concerned. "Half-unconscious? You couldn't feel the Dark Fire at all?"

Natsu shook his head. "No, if we're talking about how it felt, I know that fire definitely wasn't dragon fire. It didn't feel warm either. It actually felt a little cold. And in that state, I vaguely saw a monster that looked somewhat like me."

"A monster?" Feng Lan asked in surprise. "What kind of monster? Was it dragonization?"

Natsu thought back for a moment. "No, definitely not dragonization. That monster's face looked a lot like mine, but it had a pair of dark flame wings behind it. Its arms and legs were flames without any physical form. Its upper body was bare, and there was a flaming hole in the middle of its chest, with a book inside. Its eyes were pitch-black voids, and it kept muttering, 'Slaughter, destruction, annihilation,' over and over."

Hearing that, Feng Lan became even more confused and worried. "What the hell is all that? Is there nothing else?"

Natsu seemed to suddenly remember something and shouted at Feng Lan, "Right! I remember now! That monster and those flames didn't feel like magic."

Feng Lan asked in shock, "Not magic!? Then what were they?"

Natsu lowered his head again. "I don't know. At the very least, I couldn't sense the feeling of magic. It felt more like cursed power made up of negative emotions."

Feng Lan was completely lost now. "A power that isn't magic? A curse? A flame monster? Ah! What the hell is all this!?"

Natsu waved a hand. "Alright, bro. That power only appeared for the first time. As long as I become strong enough, I won't have to let some curse lead me around by the nose! Maybe one day, I'll even be able to control it."

Feng Lan shook his head with a bitter smile. "I really envy you. You can always stay so optimistic..."

Natsu turned serious again. "Igneel once told me that I had to prepare for the worst in everything, but I also had to keep an optimistic and positive heart."

Feng Lan smiled. "Yeah. There's no use thinking so much about it now. I should think about what to train you in over the next few days..."

Natsu's face darkened. "Aren't you the one taking the exam?"

Feng Lan knocked Natsu on the head. "My foolish little brother, I may be the one taking the exam, but I don't have any problems left. I just need to make sure you don't hold me back."

Natsu asked awkwardly, "Then... then what are you planning to teach me? My hand-to-hand combat is already completely fine!"

Feng Lan thought for a moment. "Uh... Magic Fusion Absorption!"

Natsu looked completely baffled. "Huh? What the heck is that?"

Feng Lan shook his head. "Forget it. You'll find out tomorrow. Get going! It's already dark."

Still utterly confused, Natsu was kicked out by Feng Lan.

The next morning, Feng Lan brought Natsu to the guild.

As soon as Feng Lan entered, he saw Laxus talking to Freed.

"Yo, Laxus. You didn't go train? I saw Mira and Erza competing with each other early this morning, making a huge fuss as they headed off to train."

When Laxus saw Feng Lan, he smiled and greeted him. "Oh! Feng Lan's here. I was planning to train Freed in a bit. At least with his magic, he might be able to fight you. If even that doesn't work... then I've got no chance either. As for those two women, they're just struggling for nothing. One of them will be second-to-last, and the other will be dead last anyway."

Feng Lan asked curiously, "Oh!? What magic does Freed use? Tell me about it."

Laxus immediately grabbed Freed. "Don't joke around. Our chances weren't great to begin with. If I tell you now, wouldn't that be even more ridiculous? Hey! Evergreen and Bickslow, you two aren't allowed to tell him either. And neither is the old man."

Evergreen and Bickslow hurriedly nodded their heads, while Makarov waved a hand. "Don't worry. Your grandpa isn't that kind of person."

Feng Lan smiled. "Perfect. I was planning to train Natsu too."

Laxus immediately became interested. "Perfect! You train Natsu, and I'll train Freed. When the S-Class Exam comes around, let Natsu and Freed fight. We'll see whose little brother is stronger! What do you think?"

Feng Lan agreed at once. "Sure. It's like a raising game. Sounds pretty fun."

With that, Feng Lan and Laxus dragged Natsu and Freed out of the guild hall.

Gildarts took a swig of beer and complained, "Are young people these days all this competitive? Even taking in a little brother has to become a contest of who's stronger."

Makarov replied, "Isn't that a good thing? At least it's better than becoming useless members of society who do nothing all day but never miss a meal."

Gildarts grinned. "Hehe, that's true."

At the training grounds behind the mountain, Feng Lan and Natsu began their training.

Standing beside Feng Lan, Natsu asked, "Bro, what did that absorption thing you mentioned yesterday mean?"

Feng Lan walked over to an open area and explained, "Magic Fusion Absorption means fusing two types of magic power together, then absorbing them into your body for your own use."

Natsu stared at Feng Lan in disbelief. "That sounds amazing! But it also sounds really difficult..."

Feng Lan smiled. "Heh, it would indeed be nearly impossible for ordinary mages. But don't forget the unique constitution of us Dragon Slayer Mages."

Natsu suddenly understood. "Ah! Right! Dragon Slayer Mages can eat magic power directly!"

Feng Lan nodded in satisfaction. "That's right! Dragon Slayer Mages' lungs differ from those of ordinary people. We can inhale and exhale magic power. So as long as we swallow magic power of different attributes, digest and fuse it inside our bodies, wouldn't we gain an entirely new magic attribute?"

Natsu asked skeptically, "Can that really work...? I remember one time I ate magic power of another attribute, and I ended up unconscious for several days. When I woke up, Igneel gave me a vicious scolding."

Feng Lan sighed and put on a disappointed expression. "True. After all, this is as far as you can go..."

Natsu immediately got angry. "I can't pretend I didn't hear that! What do you mean, 'as far as I can go'!? Come on, I'll swallow it today and show you!"

Feng Lan gave a sly smile. Hehe, this kid really can't stand being provoked.

"Mm, not bad spirit! I'll demonstrate first... Enter Storm Dragon Mode." White mist rose around Feng Lan.

Feng Lan took a deep breath and exhaled a vast, mist-like Dragon's Breath. "Roar of the Storm Dragon!"