In the open space outside the guild, a breeze stirred a few fallen leaves.
With his hands in his pockets, Lu Chongwei stood there looking relaxed. He couldn't even be bothered to take a stance.
Across from him, Natsu was completely focused, his body taut as orange-red flames began to rise around him.
They were flames infused with the aura of a dragon. Their temperature was so high that the air around them warped.
"So this is Dragon Slayer Magic?"
Lu Chongwei watched with interest.
The flames did have a unique quality, carrying a savage destructive force. Unlike the pure destruction of his Ryujin Jakka, they were more like a beast ready to devour its prey.
"Here I come!"
Natsu roared and pushed off the ground, which burst apart beneath his feet.
He was incredibly fast, his entire body becoming a red streak as he charged straight at Lu Chongwei.
"Fire Dragon's... Iron Fist!!!"
Natsu's right fist was wrapped in blazing flames. With unstoppable momentum, he swung it hard at Lu Chongwei's face.
The punch was powerful enough to crush rock!
The onlookers gasped.
"So fast!"
"That kid's flames are something else!"
However,
faced with the ferocious punch, Lu Chongwei merely raised his right hand.
"Smack."
A soft sound.
Lu Chongwei's palm caught Natsu's fist without a tremor.
Flames raged in his palm, trying to burn away anything in their path.
But Lu Chongwei's hand was as unyielding as if it had been forged from ten-thousand-year-old ice. It didn't budge, and not even a scratch appeared on his skin.
"What?!"
Natsu's eyes widened in disbelief.
It felt like he'd punched a mountain. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move Lu Chongwei's hand even an inch.
Worse, a strange sucking force came from the other man's palm, making it impossible for him to pull away.
"Not bad power, but you're too slow."
Lu Chongwei commented calmly.
He felt the heat in his palm and inwardly shook his head.
These flames weren't even hot enough to light his cigarette.
"I'm not done yet!"
Gritting his teeth, Natsu lit his other hand on fire and tried to attack again.
But Lu Chongwei didn't give him the chance.
"Too weak."
Lu Chongwei spoke softly.
The next second,
he gave his wrist a slight flick, and an immense force erupted.
"Off you go!"
Grabbing Natsu by the fist, he swung him into the air like a rag doll.
Natsu tumbled through the air several times before managing to regain his balance and land.
"Damn it! Don't underestimate me!"
Natsu was thoroughly enraged.
He took a deep breath, his chest swelling as fire elements around him rushed into his mouth.
"Fire Dragon's..."
Lu Chongwei's eyes narrowed at the sight.
The Roar?
If Natsu let that loose, the guild's front door would probably be wrecked again.
"Keep it in!"
Lu Chongwei flashed out of sight.
Flash Step!
When he appeared again, he was standing right in front of Natsu.
Natsu had just opened his mouth, ready to unleash the flames.
Lu Chongwei reached out and clamped a hand over his mouth!
"Mmph! Mmph!!!"
Natsu's eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out.
It felt like someone had pinched shut the opening of a balloon just before it burst.
Flames churned in his throat, but he couldn't spew them out.
The pressure made his face and neck turn red, and tears nearly welled in his eyes.
"Quiet."
Lu Chongwei held Natsu's mouth shut with one hand, the muscles in his arm bulging slightly.
"Down you go."
BOOM!
Lu Chongwei suddenly exerted his strength, pressing down on Natsu's head and slamming him hard into the ground.
CRASH!!!
The earth shook violently.
A huge crater opened in the ground as dust billowed into the air.
Natsu's body twitched twice in the crater, then went completely still.
A one-shot victory.
Another one-shot victory.
The whole crowd fell silent.
After a moment, Makarov raised his hand and announced loudly:
"Winner—Lu Chongwei!"
"Wooooo!"
Cheers erupted.
Everyone knew Lu Chongwei was powerful, but they hadn't expected him to beat Natsu, another fire-based Mage, so effortlessly.
He hadn't even used magic!
"He's incredible..."
Cana held a bottle of wine and stared at Lu Chongwei beside the crater, shock flashing in her eyes.
"That new kid isn't weak, but next to Lu Chongwei, he looks like a baby."
Just then, Gray walked over. Looking at the unconscious Natsu, he actually seemed a little sympathetic.
"Bad luck for the kid."
Gray ran a hand over the hair that had just grown back, still shaken.
"Challenging Lu Chongwei to a fire-magic duel? He was asking to get killed."
Wakaba asked curiously,
"Gray, just how powerful are Lu Chongwei's flames? I don't think I've ever seen him use his full strength."
Gray's face went deathly pale, as if he'd remembered something terrifying.
"Don't ask."
Gray swallowed, his voice trembling.
"His flames... they're not even from this world."
"They're so hot they can burn everything—even set souls ablaze. Last time, I got a little too close, and my hair vanished instantly..."
Gray instinctively covered his head.
"If he'd used magic just now, there probably wouldn't be enough left of that kid to make ashes."
The people around them drew in a sharp breath.
They looked at Lu Chongwei with even more awe.
Was this Fairy Tail's strongest prospect?
Terrifying!
Lu Chongwei dusted off his hands, pulled Natsu out of the crater, and casually tossed him to Macao.
"Take him to the infirmary. He's only got superficial injuries. He'll live."
With that, he turned and walked back into the guild, his figure impossibly carefree.
"Ah, how lonely it is to be invincible."
Lu Chongwei sighed inwardly.
Beating up weaklings was satisfying, but doing it all the time got boring.
When would a truly worthy opponent show up?
It was as if his thoughts had been heard.
Just then,
"Dong—dong—dong—"
A deep, sonorous bell suddenly rang out over all of Magnolia.
Everyone's expression changed at the sound.
The crowd, who had been laughing and joking, instantly grew serious.
Even Makarov set down his glass, his expression grave as he looked toward the entrance.
"That bell..."
Lu Chongwei stopped and broke into an excited smile.
"Finally back?"
That man.
Fairy Tail's strongest Mage.
Gildarts Clive!
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