With a defiant roar, Natsu charged straight at Cobra, his fist leading the way. Cobra, too focused on trying to peer into Natsu's mind, reacted a split second too late. Natsu's fist connected with his face several times before Cobra managed to steady himself atop his giant snake, Cubellios, and barely catch Natsu's next strike.
"I truly can't tell if you're a genius or a complete moron," Cobra spat, shouting at Natsu. "I've never met a guy who thinks of absolutely nothing while throwing a punch. But this game ends now!"
Clack!
Cobra's hand clamped down on Natsu's flaming fist. A dark, reddish-purple mist seeped from Cobra's skin as violet-red scales began to coat his arm, his hand morphing into a lizard-like claw.
Sssst!
The sound of sulfuric acid eating through flesh hissed through the air, and the flames on Natsu's fist were instantly snuffed out.
"Ah... my hand..." Natsu let out a low, pained cry. The back of his hand had been corroded into a raw, angry red.
"Natsu, what's wrong?" Happy called out from behind, hearing Natsu's scream.
Happy looked up, his eyes widening in horror at the sight before him.
"Poison Dragon Cobra... I'm getting serious now," Cobra announced to the pair.
"No way... this guy is... a Dragon Slayer Magic user!" Natsu and Happy shouted in unison.
Whoosh!
Cobra lunged at Natsu immediately. Still reeling from the shock of Cobra's transformation, Natsu failed to react in time. He took the hit head-on and was sent spiraling through the air. After a few desperate mid-air flips, he managed to stabilize himself.
But Cobra was already upon him. Abandoning his previous evasive style, he began a brutal, head-on exchange. Contrary to his usual relentless momentum, Natsu started fighting tentatively, his movements stiff and hesitant.
"What's wrong, Natsu?" Happy cried.
"Damn it! Every time this guy hits me, my body feels more and more numb," Natsu groaned to his partner.
"Oh... I can hear it. I hear your pain," Cobra taunted, once again appearing before Natsu while riding Cubellios. "A single strike from the Poison Dragon can cause all things to rot and decay."
Hearing this, Natsu gritted his teeth. "Is that so? Rot, poison... I'll just burn it all to ashes!" He glanced back at Happy. "Let's go!"
"Aye!"
With both hands engulfed in blazing flames, Natsu lunged at Cobra once more. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
"Rot and be destroyed! Poison Dragon's Twin Fang!" A reddish-black magic circle manifested before Cobra's hand. From the center of the array, a beak-like projection emerged, snapping shut around Natsu's fist.
BOOM!
The collision of their magic illuminated the sky above Nirvana, the shockwave drawing the attention of everyone on the mobile city.
Gray Fullbuster, Lucy Heartfilia, and Jura Neekis all looked up at the flash.
"What's happening over there?" Jura asked.
Gray and Lucy, however, shared a look of relieved surprise. "It's Natsu," they said almost simultaneously. "Only that idiot could cause a commotion this big."
"Big Brother Chen Fan, what's going on? Is Natsu fighting the Oración Seis? We should go help him!" Wendy Marvell urged, looking at Chen Fan.
"Don't worry. Natsu will handle that guy. You have to believe in himbecause he is your companion, understand?" Chen Fan replied gently.
"Yes, I understand," Wendy nodded, though Carla seemed lost in thought beside her.
Brain, standing nearby, scoffed. "I must disagree with your perspective, Your Excellency Chen Fan. Humans are driven by self-interest. Companions will betray one another the moment it becomes profitable. A bond without profit cannot endure. Thus, 'companions' are inferior to absolute, loyal subordinates. If"
Brain was about to continue when Chen Fan raised a hand, cutting him off. "I know what you're going to say, and I know what you intend to do with Nirvana. But you're wrong, Brain. The human heart is the most difficult thing to grasp.
Every person possesses both light and darkness. They are relative, not absolute. There is no absolute darkness, just as there is no absolute light. You, of all people, should understand that. Why continue with such a foolish endeavor?"
"No, I do not understand," Brain snapped, as if Chen Fan had struck a nerve. "I only know that Nirvana will bring me everything I desire. Cobra has the upper hand. In a moment, the companion you trust so much will be dead."
Suddenly, a sound like a dragon's cry echoed across the sky of Nirvana.
ROAR!!!
The sound was so powerful that many clutched their ears in agony. However, the moment the roar began, Chen Fan shielded Wendy and Carla from the vibration, leaving them completely unaffected.
Seeing Brain's expression twist in pain as he covered his ears, Chen Fan feigned ignorance. "My, what's wrong with him?"
Wendy and Carla gave him a skeptical "you're-lying" look, but Chen Fan only chuckled.
"How is this possible... Cobra was defeated just like that?" Brain muttered under his breath. "Just who is that man?"
"Hmm, let me think," Chen Fan said casually. "Put it this wayif I weren't here, he'd definitely be the protagonist!"
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