Gajeel strode out through the hole, his body covered in hard steel scales.
He rolled his neck, producing a series of cracking bone-grinding sounds.
"Is that all you've got, Shadow Dragon?" Gajeel grinned broadly, his face full of disdain.
Throughout this battle, Gajeel had utterly crushed Rogue.
Rogue gritted his teeth, his hands turning into pitch-black shadows.
"Shadow Escape!"
He instantly melded into the shadow on the ground, silently circling around behind Gajeel.
"Shadow Dragon's Slash!"
Rogue sprang out of the shadows, his hands transforming into blades as he viciously slashed at the back of Gajeel's neck.
Gajeel did not even turn his head.
"Too slow!"
He had easily seen through the sneak attack from Shadow Escape.
His right arm swung sharply backward, directly transforming into a massive steel greatsword.
"Iron Dragon Sword!"
Clang!
The steel greatsword slammed viciously into Rogue's chest.
Rogue screamed as the monstrous force sent him flying.
He rolled across the ground more than a dozen times, only stopping after crashing through a streetlamp.
Rogue had been driven back again and again. He lay heavily injured on the ground, covered in dust.
He panted heavily, his eyes filled with unwillingness.
Gajeel walked up to him and looked down at him from above.
"It's over. Hand over your points."
The defeated Rogue stared fiercely at Gajeel, then suddenly let out a cold laugh.
He deliberately provoked him, his voice thick with mockery.
"No wonder you'll always be nothing but a supporting character."
Gajeel frowned. "What did you say?"
Rogue wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said bluntly, "You can't compare to Natsu. No matter how hard you struggle, you'll never measure up to that Fire Dragon Slayer!"
Those words struck Gajeel's rawest nerve.
Boom!
Gajeel's eyes instantly turned scarlet.
His violent magic power