A Match with No Suspense

"Ember Dragon's Roar!" "Dark Spark!" Natsu and Mira launched their attacks at the same time, and the shockwave from their colliding magic kicked up a thick cloud of smoke.

Mira dove into the smoke, concealing herself. "Dark Flow!"

Natsu leaped high to evade the attack, twisting around in midair. "Ember Dragon's Hook Claw!"

The massive explosive shockwave shot toward the smoke. Mira flashed above Natsu's head. "Super Abuse Rampage!"

Natsu spun through the air, swinging both arms. "Ember Dragon's Wing Strike!" The wide-range explosion completely canceled out Mira's attack.

"Ember Dragon's Exploding Scales!" A chain of explosions soared toward Mira.

"Super Abuse Flash!" After hurriedly blocking the attack, Mira maneuvered to Natsu's left. "Soul Exterminator!"

Seeing this, Natsu quickly threw a punch with his right hand. "Ember Dragon's Charging Fist!" Natsu directly took Mira's attack with his fist. Though he blocked it, his arm still suffered a considerable injury.

Feng Lan instantly vanished from where he stood and appeared beside Natsu. "All right, I've got a general idea now. He definitely has the strength of a top-tier A-rank wizard, but he's still a little behind someone like Mira, who's half S-rank."

Mira looked at Feng Lan. "What? Giving up?"

Feng Lan shook his head, his blood-red pupils fixed on Mira. "No... we're switching."

Mira swallowed and prepared herself for battle.

Feng Lan beckoned to Lisanna. "Lisanna, come over too. Let me see how much you've improved this past month."

Lisanna ran over and stood behind Mira, asking uneasily, "Big Brother Feng Lan, you won't go too hard on us... right?"

Feng Lan smiled. "Heh heh, I'll try."

Mira hurriedly attacked. "Soul Exterminator!"

Lisanna followed Mira in casting her magic. "Animal Take Over—Bird, Storm!"

Feng Lan took a look and calmly analyzed the situation. "I see. So after taking over, you can use magic attacks now? For Lisanna, that really is stronger than close-range brawling."

"But it's still too weak. Your magic power is pitifully low... I'll go easy on you for now. I'll save the surprise to repay Laxus." Feng Lan shook his head. "Water Make—Night Parade of a Hundred Demons!"

A huge magic circle appeared before Feng Lan, constantly radiating an azure glow as over a hundred ghosts and monsters formed from water flew out of it.

Feng Lan's construct instantly crushed Mira and Lisanna's magic, taking both of them out of the fight in a single move.

"Whoosh!" Four magic circles appeared beneath Feng Lan and the others' feet, teleporting all four of them to the finals arena.

Laxus and Erza's teams had already been waiting there for quite some time, while Makarov stood in the center of the dueling ground.

With his hands in his pockets, Laxus walked toward Feng Lan. "Yo! You're really slow... What, did you go put in colored contacts?"

Feng Lan waved a hand and smiled. "These aren't colored contacts. They're a gift I specially prepared for you."

"Ahem, all right, all right. Hurry up and get ready. Let's finish this and get home for dinner," Makarov said, clearing his throat as he urged Feng Lan and Laxus's teams to prepare.

Makarov moved to the side of the dueling ground. "Now... Laxus and Freed versus Feng Lan and Natsu. The match begins!"

Laxus raised both hands high. "Lightning Dragon's Jaw! Freed, now!" His lightning-wreathed hands slammed heavily into the ground, kicking up a cloud of smoke.

Freed then drew the rapier at his waist and swiftly inscribed enchantments around the arena.

Feng Lan took a careful look and saw that the enchantments clearly read: Water-Attribute Magic Prohibited. Feng Lan smiled faintly. "That's pretty targeted. But... I never planned on using water magic against you in the first place."

Laxus was stunned. "Not using water magic? You know other kinds too?"

Feng Lan revealed a bloodthirsty smile. "I told you, didn't I? I prepared a gift for you... Natsu! Freed is yours."

Natsu stomped his foot. "I'm fired up! Freed, let me see how strong you are!"

Laxus gave Freed a push. "Go. Don't let your guard down."

Freed nodded. "Don't worry. I won't lose."

Feng Lan and Laxus moved to the other side of the arena, preparing for a one-on-one battle.

Laxus tensed up, staring at Feng Lan. "What exactly did you prepare? Why are you being so mysterious?"

Feng Lan smiled, but the expression on his face then turned exceptionally bloodthirsty. "Come on. Blood Dragon King Mode!"

Laxus stared in disbelief, while everyone else watched Feng Lan. His hair grew longer and turned crimson, while an utterly chilling blood-red glow shone from his pupils.

Laxus asked in panic, "You know Blood Dragon Slayer Magic too!? You never told me!"

Feng Lan gave a wicked smile. "You always have to keep a trump card in reserve, right? Blood Dragon King's Roar!"

A blood-colored Dragon's Breath burst from Feng Lan's mouth. Makarov's magic barrier nearly failed to hold, and a stretch of land within it had already been shaved away by Feng Lan's breath.

Laxus hurriedly dodged and charged Feng Lan. "Lightning Dragon's Breakdown Fist!"

Feng Lan neither dodged nor retreated. A Blood Shield appeared around him, blocking Laxus's lightning punch. Laxus swiftly turned around again. "Lightning Dragon's Hook Claw, Shattered Fang!"

But unsurprisingly, every attack was blocked by the Blood Shield, and blood splattered all over Laxus himself.

Feng Lan grinned. "My turn now, right? Blood Curse—Break!"

"Argh!" In the next second, the blood on Laxus's body exploded, followed by a scream from within the smoke.

"Laxus!" Freed was also covered in flames at that moment, having been defeated by Natsu.

When the smoke cleared, Laxus lay unconscious on the ground, his eyes rolled back.

Feng Lan sighed. "Don't worry, he's fine. He'll recover after resting for a bit. But shouldn't you put Freed out first?"

Makarov stepped forward and checked that Laxus had merely fainted and was otherwise unharmed, then led everyone back.

Along the way, the others chatted and laughed together.

Lisanna gathered around Natsu. "Natsu, you're amazing! You were able to fight Sister Mira evenly!"

Freed nodded as well. "Yes. Whether it's magic, physical combat, or even willpower, he's first-rate in every regard. I really suffered a crushing defeat this time. I've disgraced Laxus..."

Natsu waved his hand. "Not at all. Your speed at inscribing enchantments is what's truly first-rate. You finished a large-scale enchantment meant to restrict magic in just a few seconds. And if you hadn't used that enchantment to target Big Brother Feng Lan, I definitely wouldn't have won so easily."

Cana also comforted Freed. "Yeah. If you'd set up an enchantment that prohibited fire, Natsu would've been in trouble... But Lisanna said Natsu has mastered a new power too. Being able to fight Mira to a draw is really impressive."

Meanwhile, Mira and Erza, who rarely went without arguing, were complaining together about why the Guild Master had arranged such an utterly predictable test.

Feng Lan was somewhat tired as well, but he still insisted on carrying Laxus on his back.

Only Makarov wore the expression of someone whose scheme had succeeded...