Ryujin Jakka: Pine Flame!

"Boom--!!!"

In the heart of Tenrou Island's forest, it was as if a golden sun had fallen to the mortal realm.

The terrifying heat instantly ignited the air. The lush, towering trees instantly lost their moisture, turning from green to yellow, then from yellow to black, finally dissolving into a sky full of dancing ashes.

Lu Chongwei stood in the center of the sea of fire, his Zanpakuto held level, dark red flames coiling around its blade.

"Is this... your full power?"

Laxus stood a hundred meters away, his clothes already tattered and burnt, revealing his well-built, scarred muscles. But the fighting spirit in his eyes had not diminished in the slightest; instead, it blazed like a wildfire fueled by oil.

"Don't underestimate me! Lu Chongwei!"

Laxus roared, lightning surging all over him, as if he were bathed in molten lightning.

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

"Thunder Pressure Raging Waves!"

As he roared, the clouds in the sky, which had been dispersed by the heatwaves, were forcibly gathered. Countless golden bolts of lightning churned within the clouds, forming a cumulonimbus cloud of lightning covering an area of several hundred meters.

"Crush him!!!"

Laxus slammed his hands down.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

Hundreds, no, thousands of violent lightning bolts, as thick as buckets, descended with the momentum to destroy everything, like divine punishment, towards Lu Chongwei's position.

Facing this apocalyptic thunderstorm, Lu Chongwei merely slowly raised his head, his eyes calm.

"Not bad lightning."

He said softly, and Ryujin Jakka in his hand trembled slightly.

"But at this temperature, even lightning will be ignited."

"Nadeshiko."

Lu Chongwei flicked his wrist, and a seemingly casual sword energy was unleashed.

But this sword energy was not formless; it was composed of extremely compressed explosive flames.

"Rumble!!!"

The crimson flame blade collided fiercely with the golden lightning in mid-air.

Instantly, heaven and earth fell silent.

Then, a deafening roar. Red and yellow light intertwined, forming a visible shockwave that swept across the entire forest.

Even the magic display screen at the edge of the island flickered into static due to the interference of this violent energy.

"The signal's out?!"

Gildarts stood up abruptly, his face grave as he looked towards the mushroom cloud rising from the depths of the forest.

"This magic fluctuation... are these two brats trying to sink Tenrou Island?!"

At the center of the battlefield.

Before the smoke and dust had even cleared, a figure wreathed in lightning tore through the curtain of fire, appearing before Lu Chongwei as if teleporting.

It was Laxus!

He had completely entered a berserk state, his eyes blood red, blood trickling from his lips. But he paid it no mind, channeling all his magic into his right arm.

"Dragon's Jaw!!!"

Laxus brought his hands together and slammed them down like a hammer towards the crown of Lu Chongwei's head. This strike contained the purest destructive power of a Dragon Slayer, capable of crushing mountains.

"Too slow."

Lu Chongwei didn't even look up, merely releasing a burst of spiritual pressure around him.

"Explode!"

Boom!

A ring of explosive flames instantly erupted outwards from Lu Chongwei.

"Bang!"

Laxus's fatal blow, before it could land, was forcefully repelled by this burst of flames.

"Ugh!"

Laxus tumbled through the air several times, his landing gouging two deep furrows in the ground with his feet.

He panted heavily, his skin flushed red from the intense heat. He could feel his internal magic circulation becoming sluggish, as if even his magic feared the high temperature.

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

Laxus gritted his teeth, forcefully squeezing out the last trace of magic from his body, transforming into a golden lightning bolt and charging at Lu Chongwei once more.

Lu Chongwei looked at the man who charged forward despite his grievous injuries, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"Since that is the case, I shall offer you my highest respect."

Lu Chongwei gripped his sword, the tip pointed downwards, and plunged it fiercely into the earth.

"All things in creation, turn to ash."

"Ryujin Jakka: Pine Flame!"

Hummm--

The ground trembled violently.

The next second.

Centered on Laxus, a swirling, sky-piercing pillar of flame erupted from the ground!

This was not merely fire, but a purgatory of flames capable of burning sight and isolating everything.

"What is this?!"

Laxus only had time to let out a startled cry before being completely swallowed by the fiery vortex.

The flame tornado spun madly, covering an area of over a thousand meters, soaring into the sky and burning a massive hole in the clouds above.

From a distance.

"Not good!"

Gildarts watched the fire tornado that connected earth and sky, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.

"That temperature... if it's not stopped, the entire island's ecosystem will be destroyed!"

"Old man!"

Gildarts turned to look at Makarov.

Makarov's face was also filled with horror, his wine glass long since dropped to the ground.

"Quick! Go stop them!"

Makarov roared, his body instantly swelling, transforming into a giant form, and he strode towards the center of the battlefield.

Gildarts followed closely, praying silently in his heart.

"That kid Lu Chongwei, he really doesn't know when to hold back!"

At the center of the battlefield.

The flame tornado lasted for a full half-minute before slowly dissipating.

The ground had been scorched into glass, emitting astonishing heat.

Thump.

A charred figure fell from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground.

Laxus was tattered and burned in multiple places, emitting black smoke, looking utterly miserable.

But he had not yet fainted.

"Cough... cough..."

Laxus struggled, propping himself up with his hands on the ground, trembling as he tried to get up. His vision was blurred, his consciousness on the verge of collapse, but the pride etched into his bones refused to let him fall.

"Come on..."

Laxus raised his head, staring intently at Lu Chongwei with bloodshot eyes, his voice extremely hoarse.

"Lu Chongwei... pick up your sword... continue!"

"I... can still fight!"