While Mystogan and Laxus were fighting, Mira and Dark Magician Girl, heading to the eastern forest, unsurprisingly encountered Freed and the Dark Magician blocking their way on the outskirts.
A gentle breeze blew, kicking up a thin layer of dust and stirring the hems of the four figures facing each other.
"Stop this, Freed. Many people are already injured and need treatment."
Mira tried to persuade him. "You're not the kind of person who would hurt comrades. You know this civil war is meaningless, don't you?"
A flicker of hesitation passed through Freed's eyes, but he quickly tightened his grip on his slender sword.
"I'm sorry. But Laxus's will is my will. Whatever Laxus wants to do, I will carry it out firmly."
"That takes priority over the master and everyone else in the guild. So, sorry, Mira."
Freed raised his sword, pointing it at Mira. His expression was firm, unyielding. "If you want to leave, you'll have to defeat me first!"
As the exclusive cat of a Dragon Slayer (not really), he was Laxus's most staunch supporter. In a way, his bond with Laxus was even closer than Happy's with Natsu.
"If that's the case, I'll just have to cool you down first."
With that, Mira's eyes sharpened. Terrifying dark purple magic power burst from her. Her elegant wine-red dress violently swayed as she transformed again into the overwhelmingly oppressive Satan Soul battle form.
Freed etched the rune "Forbidden Dark Text" onto his body with his sword, then looked sideways at the Dark Magician, who stood with his arms crossed.
The Dark Magician immediately understood. He spun his staff, releasing an equivalent magical aura.
"I don't know how the green-haired guy convinced you, but stinky master, your opponent is me!"
Dark Magician Girl stepped forward. A pink light screen also lit up around her. Her momentum was flamboyant.
The Dark Magician's eyes narrowed. He quickly noticed the source of his foolish apprentice's confidence — beside her floated a dark brown magic book.
That was their master-disciple exclusive Magic Card: Magic Spellbook. Its effect was to increase magic power limit and magical strength.
Judging by the boost value on the card, Dark Magician Girl, equipped with this magic card, had already surpassed the Dark Magician!
"A battle between wizards isn't just about who has more magic power, my foolish apprentice." The Dark Magician's expression calm remained.
"We're on opposing sides now! This isn't the time for a lecture!"
Dark Magician Girl puffed out her cheeks angrily. Pink light bloomed from her staff as she made the first move.
The master-disciple battle began. At the same time, Demon Mira and Dark Freed clashed, engaging in intense, high-speed close-quarters combat in the air.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Magic collided with magic, exploding one after another in this uninhabited area.
The booming echoes resounded through the outskirts. Even the residents inside the city noticed the heart-palpitating commotion and praised this year's Fairy Tail for having so many fireworks programs.
The floating lightning magic crystals above were, of course, also assumed to be a type of firework.
It had to be said, thanks to Chase's "training," these people had strong nerves.
Fairy tail guild hall.
Makarov sat on a chair, breathing heavily. A bottle of heart medication sat beside him.
Just moments ago, Levy had successfully rewritten Freed's runes. The old man had wanted to rush out with Natsu and Gajeel and give that unfilial grandson Laxus a good lesson.
But excessive excitement had aggravated his condition. Though not critically ill, joining the civil war was now impossible.
"Master, just rest at the guild. Even if Natsu and Gajeel fail, Chase won't just stand by," Levy comforted him.
"I really have to admit I'm getting old..."
Makarov sighed heavily. "How's Bisca?"
Just now, Bisca had tried to shoot down the lightning magic crystals with a sniper rifle, but was counterattacked and knocked unconscious by the ensuing thunder.
Using conventional methods to destroy the 300 independent units of Thunder Palace was simply unrealistic!
"She's not in danger, but she'll probably need to rest for a while."
Remembering the scene she had witnessed on the guild roof, Levy slowly clenched her fists at her sides. Her eyes dimmed. "Laxus has gone too far this time."
"I'm sorry, Levy. You were frightened. It's my fault for spoiling Laxus too much..."
"No! It's not your fault at all, Master!"
At the abandoned factory, Chase sat cross-legged on the duelist platform, his eyes slightly narrowed, quietly waiting for the next challenger.
Since Lucy had left, beaten black and blue, no other guild members had appeared. Only a handful remained who could still fight.
BOOM!
Suddenly, the factory's closed door was kicked open.
"Damn Chase! Fight me right now!!"
Natsu stepped on the fallen door, his face full of excitement as he burst in.
But after looking around, he couldn't find Chase.
"Weird. Is he not here?"
Giving up, Natsu walked to the edge of the duelist platform and politely asked Chase's back, "Excuse me, crab-haired guy. Have you seen a card game addict?"
"Before asking such an idiotic question—"
Chase was a bit speechless at Natsu's natural airhead personality. He slowly stood up and turned around. "Why don't you take a look at who I am?"
"Ch-Chase? That's a cool hairstyle!"
Natsu was genuinely impressed. His eyes sparkled. "Where did you get it? I want one too!"
"Tony's Barber Shop on South 6th Street." Chase smiled.
Getting the location, Natsu turned and ran toward the door. Halfway there, he remembered why he had come and hurriedly turned back.
"No! That can wait! Right now, I'm going to beat you, then beat up Laxus, and win this strongest tournament!"
"A great ambition."
Chase brushed the dust off his clothes and held up two fingers. "Like everyone before you, you have two choices to challenge me. Fight, or pl—"
"I choose fight!"
Before he could finish, Natsu, his fighting spirit maxed out, charged with his Fire Dragon's iron fist!
Chase stood still and shook his head with a smile. He calmly extended his right arm.
Block. Push. Toss.
Natsu, who had rushed up close, was sent flying back like a ragdoll, crashing heavily into a pile of discarded steel materials. His neck tilted, and he fell asleep peacefully.
"I can't help it. Alright, bring it on!"
"It's already over!" Evergreen, tied up in a corner and unable to move, filled in for Lucy.
"Hmph. I told you to make a plan first. Now look at you. You've lost all your face!"
The sound of leather boots stepping on the floor echoed. Gajeel, arriving a moment later at the abandoned factory, stood over Natsu and mocked him.
Stimulated, Natsu immediately woke from his unconscious state. His mouth full of sawtooth fangs, he shouted at Gajeel, "Bastard! You think you can do better?!"
"He said there were two choices! Why couldn't you let him finish?!"
"Coward! You'd pick the option that isn't fighting!"
"Damn fire dragon! You wanna die?!"
"Bring it on! If I can't beat Chase, I can still beat you, you cowardly piece of iron!"
"Say that again if you dare!!"
Arguing back and forth, the two angrily pressed their foreheads together, looking ready to roll up their sleeves and fight.
Evergreen's mouth twitched uncontrollably. I was so stupid to be worried Chase might be recruited by these two...
"Hey, what did you come here for? If you want to fight, take it outside." Chase yawned slowly.
"None of your business!" Natsu snapped back.
But the interruption helped Gajeel calm down.
"Hey, fire dragon. Put aside our personal grudge for now. Completing the master's task is more important."
"Neither you nor I is a match for this monster."
He looked up at Chase on the duelist platform, a smile curling on his lips. "How about it? Want to team up?"
"Hah? Team up? Didn't you say the sky doesn't need two dragons?" Natsu curled his lip disdainfully.
"That's what the blue cat said! Even if I agree with it."
Gajeel clenched his right fist. His magic power rapidly rose with his fighting spirit. "But if the opponent is a 'god,' it's only reasonable to compromise a little, right?"
While chewing on iron in the guild corner recently, he had heard from Mira and the others that Chase could use God Slayer magic, which was even rarer than Dragon Slayer magic.
Looking at Chase standing proudly on the platform, Natsu punched his fists together and accepted the proposal. "Just this once."
"Of course. We'll settle things between us eventually!"
With that, both took a deep breath and simultaneously burst out all their magic power.
A cyan storm and a crimson storm swept out, filling the entire abandoned factory!
Just as Natsu and Gajeel, their aura peaked, stepped forward to attack, their released magic power suddenly flickered. As if pulled by some energy field, it swirled toward a central point.
A cool magic circle appeared beneath their feet. Light crisscrossed, outlining the pattern of a Magic Card.
"Since you're so confused about the 'two dragons' problem, let me help you out a little."
Chase smiled and flipped the card between his fingers. It was Polymerization!
The performance of Natsu and Gray's fusion, Ice Flame Dragon — whose magical attributes were completely opposite — had already been impressive enough, fully reaching the level of a Fairy Tail S-Class wizard.
So what about Natsu and Gajeel, both Dragon Slayers?
Chase had had this idea ever since Gajeel joined the guild. He just hadn't found the right opportunity.
Now, with Laxus's civil war and Natsu and Gajeel both present, it was the perfect time to test the upper limit of this fusion!
"W-Wait! I don't want to fuse with this guy!!!"
Feeling his body start to distort in that familiar way, Natsu was alarmed and struggled violently.
"Nani? Fuse?! With that damn fire dragon?!!" Gajeel, experiencing it for the first time, was so scared he screamed.
But against absolute magic power, their resistance was completely useless.
The power of Polymerization forcibly dragged them into the center of a chaotic vortex. Dazzling white light instantly illuminated the entire hall!
"Wh-What's happening?!"
Evergreen, watching, her pupils contracted. She looked in disbelief at the robust figure standing deep within the gradually dissipating white light.
The strange man had long hair, alternating black and cherry color. His eyebrows and nose bridge had piercings like Gajeel's. Around his neck was Natsu's scarf. His mixed-color clothes fluttered. The Fairy Tail emblems on his left and right arms were strangely symmetrical.
He stood tall, his gaze sharp. Just standing there, one could clearly feel aura of strength — or not!
"Ah! So hot! Who turned on the heater? Why is it so hot?!"
NatsuGajeel immediately punched himself in the left cheek. "You damn body, adjust your temperature back!"
"Hot is normal! And this hard feeling all over is terrible!"
Just after hitting his left cheek, he raised his right fist and punched his right cheek.
"An Iron Dragon Slayer's body has to be hard! Damn it! If the temperature rises any more, I'll melt!!"
THUD, THUD! THUD, THUD, THUD!
Unable to stay cool for even three seconds, NatsuGajeel started fighting with himself on the spot. The scene looked quite funny.
"I see. This was your calculation. You're truly a malicious man..." Evergreen looked up at Chase, fear in her eyes.
Using just one Magic Card to make two Dragon Slayers completely unable to fight!
Watching NatsuGajeel rolling around on the ground fighting himself, Chase's face couldn't stay straight. He had no time to engage with Evergreen.
That's not right. They're both Dragon Slayers. Shouldn't the compatibility be even more perfect after fusion?
Even if the fusion materials' personalities were incompatible, this shouldn't happen — the previously impressive Ice Flame Dragon proved that!
Could it be...
Suddenly, Chase's eyes lit up. A possibility occurred to him.
A crimson space where hot lava flowed everywhere, dotted with erupting volcanoes.
A cyan light group entered this area, which looked like hell on earth, reaching the deepest part.
"Sorry to disturb. But I didn't expect to meet you this way, Fire Dragon King..." The cyan light group hovered above the lava, its voice low.
In the thick flames, a pair of dragon's eyes, radiating immense pressure, slowly opened. "Long time no see, Metalicana."
"So, what's the situation?" The Iron Dragon, Metalicana, asked in a low voice.
Until just now, he had been in a deep sleep. He had no idea how he had suddenly appeared here.
"As you can see, your kid and my kid have temporarily fused together." Igneel's nostrils snorted rolling waves of heat.
Having witnessed Natsu and Gray's fusion, he knew this was Chase's doing.
"Human magic has progressed this far?!" Metalicana was somewhat surprised.
"No. That's probably that man's unique ability."
Igneel slightly raised his head, looking at Chase outside through NatsuGajeel's vision. "Before, I even sensed a dragon's breath on him that made even me feel fear."
"One that makes even you fear? Could it be Acnologia?"
"Possibly. Or something even higher than Acnologia..."
At this, Igneel's expression became extremely serious. "A god."
"A god? How is that possible?! How could something like that be inside a human?!" Metalicana was dumbfounded.
As a giant dragon that ruled the previous era, he had heard some legends about gods, but had never seen one.
He only knew they were horrific forbidden existences with unparalleled power, capable of destroying the world with a snap of their fingers.
"I'm not sure either. But if it's true, the hope of defeating Acnologia will greatly increase!"
Seeing Metalicana wanting to ask more, the awakened Igneel roared impatiently, "Enough. This is just my guess. Now get lost!"
This old fart... how inexplicable!
Metalicana was super annoyed, but knowing the other was the insanely powerful Fire Dragon King, he suppressed his temper and slunk away.
With the two dragons' conversation over, NatsuGajeel's discomfort disappeared.
In its place was fierce magic power, perfect blend and rising higher and higher!
"Ooooh! Revived!!"
"Ready to be beaten into a pulp by the Steel Flame Dragon, you bastard Chase!"
***
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