Second Round

"Argh!" Laxus, struck head-on by the Rasengan, felt the power of the attack. Its intense rotation tore apart the Lightning Armor covering his body, and then the Rasengan in Ed's hand erupted again, sending Laxus flying with a powerful blast.

"So, it looks like I get the first move in the second round, Laxus!" Ed pressed his advantage, pulling out Kunai with both hands and hurling them at Laxus.

"Flying Thunder God! Spiral Flash Super Round Dance Howl: Third Style!" Several Kunai shot after Laxus along the path of his flight.

The instant the Kunai caught up to Laxus, a golden flash flickered, and Ed appeared at Laxus's side.

He flipped the Kunai in his hand and viciously struck Laxus with the ring at its handle. Before Laxus could react, another golden flash appeared, and Ed emerged beside another Kunai, landing another heavy blow.

Flying Thunder God flashes continuously flickered around Laxus as he was sent flying. Only when Laxus was about to hit the ground did Ed flash back to his original position.

"Can you still keep going? You can surrender if you can't~" Ed shook out his hands, spun a Kunai, and gripped it in reverse. "If this keeps up, it'll be hard for me to hold back."

"Pah." Laxus climbed up from the ground and spat out blood-tinged saliva. Wiping the corner of his mouth, he charged Ed again. "That didn't hurt at all! Hold back? Don't make me laugh, Ed! Lightning Call!"

A sudden sense of danger washed over Ed, and he immediately used Flying Thunder God to leave his spot. The place where he had just stood was engulfed by a dazzling bolt of lightning. "Tch, you really are hard to catch. As expected of space magic—you're fast when it comes to running away."

Though Ed had suppressed him for a while, Laxus still taunted him.

"Hah? I'm seriously impressed by that mouth of yours. You're stubborn as hell, Laxus!" Seeing how hardheaded Laxus was, Ed decided to give him another barrage. He instantly flashed before Laxus, lowered his body, and launched a sideways rising kick empowered by Monster Strength Art, sending Laxus soaring into the air.

"Don't die on me, Laxus!" Ed used Flying Thunder God to appear above Laxus. "Heaven-Shaking Kick!" With a Monster Strength-powered downward kick, he smashed Laxus brutally into the ground once more.

After taking several heavy blows in such a short time, Laxus could not help letting out a cry of pain. But someone as tough as him refused to accept being beaten without being able to fight back. "Lightning Pressure: Raging Waves!"

Laxus launched another attack without even having time to adjust himself as he lay on the ground. A massive sphere of lightning appeared overhead and came crashing down toward Ed.

"Don't you know I'm a space mage? What's the point of using an attack that's guaranteed to miss!" Ed flashed away, evading the strike.

Suddenly, golden lightning flashed in the corner of his eye. Taking advantage of the opening while Ed dodged, Laxus turned into lightning and rushed to his side, driving a Lightning Strike Fist straight into Ed.

Caught off guard, Ed was sent flying and slammed heavily into the ground. "Cough... that one had some real power." Pain coursed through his entire body. "Tch... I'm a high-agility assassin. I still can't compare my health bar to these beasts, and he still has that much strength."

Ed gritted his teeth, rose to his feet again, and prepared to continue fighting.

"Didn't I catch you? You're a space mage, not a time mage. I just have to seize the gap in your own reactions. Now enjoy yourself, Ed! Lightning Magic Circle!"

Laxus gave him no time to react, gathering magic power and launching another attack. A golden magic circle appeared beneath Ed's feet, radiating dangerous lightning. In the next instant, the lightning erupted.

As golden light flashed, Ed appeared beside another Flying Thunder God Kunai. Laxus had already turned into lightning and rushed before him again. "I've figured it out. Every time you evade, you habitually run to the farthest Kunai. As long as I force you to dodge, I can catch your landing point! Lightning Strike Spear!" Laxus raised a hand and unleashed a bolt of lightning.

Ed used Flying Thunder God again to evade, but the moment he landed, another flash of lightning appeared before his eyes. "What? Still don't believe I can catch your landing point? Lightning Strike Spear!"

Another pillar of lightning blasted toward Ed. Ed gritted his teeth and gave up on dodging. He held both hands before himself, pinching a Kunai between his thumbs in his palms. A black magic circle formed from condensed runes appeared in the air. The lightning struck its center and was swallowed as though it had fallen into mud.

"What!?" Laxus was startled.

"Why don't you try it yourself! Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder!" A second magic circle appeared in the air. The dazzling lightning was drawn into the first circle, then released from the second, shooting directly at Laxus.

"Boom!" The lightning struck Laxus, kicking up another cloud of dust. When the smoke cleared, Laxus's bedraggled figure emerged. The coat he had been wearing was nowhere to be seen, while the pale purple shirt underneath was in tatters. Laxus grabbed the collar of his shirt and ripped the ragged garment off with a forceful pull. "You can do something like that too. Not bad, Ed!"

"Stop shouting my name all the time! It's seriously annoying!" Ed flashed in front of Laxus again, a Rasengan already formed in his hand and about to strike him.

"I've been waiting for you to come right to me! Hah!" Laxus roared as massive amounts of lightning erupted from every part of his body. Ed's pupils shrank, and he instantly reacted, flashing back to his original position. The moment he landed, he thrust the Rasengan in his hand forward, striking the ambushing Laxus head-on.

Violent lightning coiled around Laxus's body as the Lightning Strike Fist in his hand collided with Ed's Rasengan, erupting in dazzling light.

Magic power surged through both of them and poured into their attacks. The lightning in Laxus's hand and the Rasengan in Ed's both began to grow, while the clash of their magic power stirred up gust after gust of wind.

With a boom, the shockwave sent both of them flying. "Raging Volt!" Laxus forcibly twisted his body in midair and launched another attack at Ed.

"Tch, you really don't leave even the slightest opening! Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder!" Ed activated Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder again, reflecting Laxus's attack back at him.

Laxus was struck head-on by his own lightning. Just as Ed was about to catch his breath, he saw that lightning flow into Laxus's mouth like water.

"Now it's time for the third round, Ed! I remember Natsu saying this—eat it, and power comes pouring out! Roar of the Lightning Dragon!" Laxus opened his mouth and unleashed a massive roar that blasted toward Ed.