Natsu was blasted backward, his feet carving two deep trenches into the ground.
Future Rogue also staggered back several steps.
The ground beneath his feet shattered.
The soldiers in the distance held their breath at the sight.
"That boy actually blocked Future Rogue!"
"Their strength is nothing like that of ordinary Mages!"
"If we get any closer, the aftershock might tear us apart!"
Neither of them stopped.
Natsu charged again, his right fist wreathed in flames as he smashed it toward Future Rogue.
Future Rogue twisted aside, then drove his elbow into Natsu's chest.
Natsu took the blow head-on. His body bent from the impact, but he seized Future Rogue's arm and drove a fist into his stomach.
"Bang!"
Future Rogue was sent flying, smashing through a broken wall.
Rubble rained down.
He stepped out of the ruins, his expression darker than before.
Natsu stared at him.
"The aura around you is getting more disgusting."
Future Rogue said nothing.
Natsu gritted his teeth.
"That isn't the magic power someone trying to save the future should have."
"You're carrying an evil aura."
"What exactly did you go through?"
Future Rogue lowered his head and looked at his hand.
Black magic power seeped from between his fingers.
"I went through a future you can't imagine."
"Dragons destroyed cities. Guilds were razed to the ground. Every day, the survivors waited to die. To survive, I did everything."
He raised his head, his gaze turning completely cold.
"So I won't trust anyone ever again."
Natsu clenched his fists.
"Then I'll beat some sense into you!"
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Flames erupted with a roar.
Future Rogue raised an arm to block, but the impact gouged a massive crater into the ground behind him.
He looked down at the scorch mark on his arm, and