Ryujin Jakka: Pine Flame!

"Boom—!!!"

At the heart of Tenrou Island's forest, it was as if a golden sun had fallen from the heavens.

The terrifying heat ignited the air in an instant. The towering trees, once lush and green, had their moisture vaporized in the blink of an eye. They turned yellow, then black, and finally crumbled into ashes that filled the sky.

Lu Chongwei stood at the center of the sea of flames, his Zanpakuto held level in his hand. Dark red streams of flame coiled around the blade.

"So this is... your full strength?"

A hundred meters away, Laxus stood with his clothes burned to tatters, revealing his muscular body, covered in scorch marks. But the fighting spirit in his eyes had not diminished in the slightest. If anything, it blazed like a fire doused in oil.

"Don't underestimate me, Lu Chongwei!"

Laxus roared as lightning surged wildly around him, bathing him in a sea of thunder.

"I'm Fairy Tail's strongest candidate! How could I possibly fall here?"

"Thunder Pressure Raging Waves!"

As he roared, the clouds that had been scattered by the heat currents were forcibly drawn together. Countless golden bolts of lightning churned among them, forming a thundercloud that covered several hundred meters in every direction.

"Smash him... to pieces!!!"

Laxus swung both hands down.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

Hundreds upon hundreds of furious bolts, each as thick as a barrel, poured down on Lu Chongwei's position with the force of Heavenly Punishment, carrying enough power to destroy everything.

Facing the apocalyptic lightning storm, Lu Chongwei merely raised his head, his expression calm.

"Not bad lightning."

He spoke softly as Ryujin Jakka trembled in his hand.

"But at this temperature, even lightning can be set alight."

"Nadeshiko."

Lu Chongwei flicked his wrist and sent out a seemingly effortless slash.

But the slash wasn't invisible. It was made of Explosive Flame compressed to an extreme degree.

"Rumble!!!"

The crimson blade of flame collided violently with the golden lightning in midair.

In an instant, the world fell silent.

Then came a thunderous blast. Red and golden light intertwined, forming a visible shock wave that swept across the entire forest.

Even the magic display screen at the far edge of the island was disrupted by the violent energy. Its picture instantly dissolved into static.

"The signal's down?!"

Gildarts shot to his feet, his expression grave as he looked toward the mushroom cloud rising from deep within the forest.

"This magic power... Are those two brats trying to sink Tenrou Island?!"

At the heart of the battlefield.

The dust had yet to settle when a figure wreathed in lightning tore through the wall of fire and appeared before Lu Chongwei as if by teleportation.

It was Laxus!

He was now completely overcome by rage. His eyes were bloodshot, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he paid it no heed, gathering all his magic power into his right arm.

"Dragon's Jaw!!!"

Laxus clasped his hands together and brought them down like a heavy hammer toward the crown of Lu Chongwei's head. The attack contained the purest destructive force of a Dragon Slayer, powerful enough to shatter a mountain.

"Too slow."

Lu Chongwei didn't even look up. He simply released his spiritual pressure in a sudden burst.

"Explode!"

Boom!

A ring of explosive flames erupted around Lu Chongwei in an instant.

Bang!

Before Laxus's finishing blow could land, the flames blasted him away.

"Ugh!"

Laxus spun through the air several times. When he landed, his feet gouged two deep furrows in the ground.

He panted heavily, his skin bright red from the scorching heat. He could feel the magic power within him moving sluggishly, as if even it feared the searing temperature.

"It's not over... I haven't lost!!!"

Grinding his teeth, Laxus squeezed out the last trace of magic power in his body. He became a golden bolt of lightning and charged at Lu Chongwei once more.

Lu Chongwei looked at the man charging forward despite his grievous injuries, and a hint of admiration flashed through his eyes.

"In that case, I'll give you my highest respect."

Lu Chongwei gripped his sword with both hands, pointed the tip downward, and plunged it into the earth.

"All things in creation turn to ash."

"Ryujin Jakka: Pine Flame!"

Vmmm—

The earth shook violently.

The next instant.

Centered on Laxus, a swirling wall of flame rose from the ground, towering from earth to sky!

This was more than mere fire. It was a fiery purgatory that could burn away sight and block everything.

"What is this?!"

Laxus had time for only one cry of alarm before the tornado of flame swallowed him completely.

The flaming tornado spun wildly, covering an area of more than a thousand meters. It shot into the sky, burning a gigantic hole through the clouds.

In the distance.

"Oh no!"

Gildarts stared at the pillar of fire connecting earth and sky, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.

"That temperature... If we don't stop it, the entire island's ecosystem will be destroyed!"

"Old man!"

Gildarts turned to Makarov.

Makarov was equally aghast. The wineglass had already fallen from his hand.

"Quick! Stop them!"

Makarov roared. His body swelled in an instant, transforming into a giant as he charged toward the heart of the battlefield with great strides.

Gildarts followed close behind, silently praying.

"That kid Lu Chongwei really doesn't know how to hold back!"

At the heart of the battlefield.

The flaming tornado lasted a full half minute before slowly dissipating.

The ground had been burned into glass, radiating astonishing heat.

Thud.

A charred figure fell from the sky and crashed heavily onto the ground.

Laxus's clothes were in tatters, and much of his body was burned. Black smoke rose from him, making him look utterly wretched.

But he still hadn't passed out.

"Cough, cough..."

Laxus struggled, bracing both hands against the ground as he shakily tried to rise. His vision was blurred, and his consciousness hovered on the brink of collapse, but the pride carved into his very bones wouldn't let him fall.

"Come on..."

Laxus lifted his head and fixed his bloodshot eyes on Lu Chongwei, his voice hoarse.

"Lu Chongwei... pick up your sword... and keep going!"

"I... can still fight!"