Battle, the Newcomer Gray

"I've been looking forward to this fight with you for a long time, Cain."

Laxus looked at Cain standing quietly across from him and spoke excitedly.

"Then come on, Laxus. Let me show you what I've achieved over the past year."

Facing the coming battle, Cain was also somewhat excited.

Seeing that both were ready, Cana, acting as the temporary referee, shouted, "Begin!" Then she hurriedly ran farther away, afraid she would be caught up in their fight if she was too slow.

The moment Cana's voice fell, a golden bolt of lightning shot from Laxus's hand.

Seeing the lightning bolt as thick as his arm, Cain immediately responded, "Light Shield!"

A massive golden shield appeared in front of Cain, perfectly blocking the incoming lightning.

Feeling the impact on the Light Shield, Cain couldn't help thinking, I never expected even a casual attack from Laxus to have this much power.

"Cain, getting distracted during a fight isn't a good habit."

"What?" Cain turned his head in shock.

He discovered that Laxus had somehow appeared at his side. His speed had completely exceeded Cain's expectations. Laxus drew back his right arm, then slammed his fist at Cain like a cannon loaded with explosives.

He didn't hold back at all with that punch. That thought flashed through Cain's mind as he watched the vicious fist approach.

Facing the incoming blow, Cain could only gather the Holy Light Magic within him and concentrate it around his arms to block it.

Bang!!!

A dull boom rang out across the clearing behind the mountain.

Before Cain, who had been knocked to the ground, could get back up, he swung his right hand fiercely toward Laxus.

A golden magic circle appeared before him.

[Light Rain]

Six arrows of light shot rapidly toward Laxus.

Seeing the light arrows flying at him, Laxus remained completely calm. He took a deep breath, and a golden lightning storm burst from his mouth.

The lightning storm shredded the six incoming light arrows. But it wasn't over yet—the storm, having destroyed the arrows, continued hurtling toward Cain without slowing down.

Fortunately, Cain had understood the moment he saw Laxus inhale that Light Rain could not block that spell.

So he had already dodged aside. Seeing his attack miss, Laxus praised him, "Cain, I didn't expect you to dodge my Lightning Dragon's Roar from so close. Then the warm-up is over."

That was right. What Laxus had just used was Lightning Dragon Slayer Magic—Lightning Dragon's Roar.

It was a form of magic meant to slay dragons, yet it was taught by dragons. It was rather unbelievable when one thought about it.

However, Laxus's Dragon Slayer Magic had not been taught by a dragon. He had gained it through a Dragon Crystal implanted in his body.

With arcs of electricity flashing over his body, Laxus moved incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Cain.

Facing the same attack as before, Cain was prepared. He twisted aside to evade Laxus's fist, then drove out the right fist he had long been charging at his waist.

Taking Laxus by surprise, Cain's punch forced him back several steps. Rubbing the spot on his chest that had been hit, Laxus bared his teeth. "Cain, you're really strong."

"I won't fall for the same move twice."

"Hahaha, I'm fired up! Come on, Cain!!!"

Cain was also beginning to experience the thrill of battle. He shouted just as excitedly, "Come on, Laxus!!"

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Laxus's speed and strength were nothing like what a twelve-year-old should possess. Even fifteen- or sixteen-year-olds might not match him in either strength or speed.

Outmatched by Laxus in both strength and speed, Cain could only use the fighting techniques he had learned from short videos and movies in his previous life to counterattack.

Of course, his brain understood them, but his hands and feet did not. At the same time, Cain discovered that the lightning around Laxus's body did not paralyze him. He guessed that his Holy Light Magic was playing some role.

Luckily for him, otherwise he would have definitely already lost.

The battle ended with Cain collapsing to the ground, unable to rise again. Lying there and gasping for air, a huge bump had swollen up on his face.

"L-Laxus... you don't... hit people in the face, don't you know that?"

Laxus was in much better shape than Cain. He was not lying on the ground, but bracing his hands on his knees as he recovered his depleted strength and magic power.

Hearing Cain say that, Laxus immediately protested, "You've got the nerve to say that? Who hit me here, and here?"

Both of Laxus's eye sockets were blackened. That was the result of Cain giving it everything he had.

Seeing Laxus looking like a giant panda, Cain couldn't help bursting into laughter.

But the moment he laughed, the pain in his cheek made him stop at once.

Seeing Cain laugh and wince at the same time, Laxus couldn't help laughing as well.

"All right, stop laughing. Drink the medicine first." Cana walked over and took out the potions Cain had previously given her, handing one to each of them.

Although they had only suffered minor injuries, and they would recover in a day with their healing abilities, neither of them would refuse a quicker recovery.

After drinking the potions, the three of them chatted and laughed as they headed toward the guild.

Cain had expected the outcome of this battle. After all, he was inferior to Laxus in every respect, so it was only natural that he would be defeated.

Still, his year of training had not been without results. At the very least, he had not made it easy for Laxus to win. The blackened eye sockets were the best proof.

When the people at the guild saw the state Cain and Laxus were in, they knew the two had gone off to fight. No one found it surprising.

If Fairy Tail Mages didn't know how to fight, could they still be Fairy Tail Mages?

Cana did not return to the guild with them. Instead, she went back to the dormitory, saying she was going to train seriously. Cain understood that she had been stirred up by his battle with Laxus.

Come to think of it, Gildarts had not returned at all over the past year. Cain had originally wanted to tell him about Cana when he came back, but he should return this year. After all, it was only an S-rank request.

After finishing a request that day, Cain did not return to the guild right away. Instead, he went to a shop that sold magical tools.

"Shopkeeper, do you have any magical tools that can adjust weight?"

"A magical tool that adjusts weight?" Shopkeeper Baka frowned and thought for a moment. "Sorry, Cain, but we don't have anything like that in the shop."

"All right." Just as Cain was preparing to leave in disappointment, Shopkeeper Baka spoke up. "If you can wait, Cain, I can bring one back during my next shipment. Do you have any requirements?"

"Really? Thank you so much, Shopkeeper. Let me think."

Cain thought for a while before saying, "It would be best if the weight could be adjusted between five and twenty kilograms. It would also be best if it could be worn on the body. Nothing else."

"Alright, I've written that down. Come back in two weeks."

"Okay, thank you, Shopkeeper." After thanking him, Cain headed toward the guild in high spirits.

The reason he wanted adjustable weighted gear was that he had now completely adapted to the one-kilogram weights on his wrists and ankles.

Although buying ordinary weights would be cheaper, they would need to be replaced frequently. In the end, the cost was about the same.

When Cain arrived at the guild, he saw a black-haired boy talking to the guild master.

He walked over to Cana and asked curiously, "Who's that? A newcomer to the guild?"

"Yeah, he just joined the guild. His name is Gray, and he's an ice Mage."