"Hahaha! Let's see how you get back up riding flames this time, you damn fly." Watching Natsu plummet into the canyon, Erigor sneered with undisguised delight, his eyes filled with vicious satisfaction.
"This is actually getting a bit bad…" Natsu muttered as he fell headfirst, his mind racing for a solution.
Then something from his childhood surfaced.
Back then, Macao had told him that flames could change their nature—so long as you had a clear will, fire would respond to your desires.
Natsu hadn't understood it then.
But now, he did.
He closed his eyes. The next instant, when they snapped open again, blazing fire erupted around him, surging skyward into a towering pillar of flames, as if piercing the heavens.
Erigor's eyes widened in shock as he instinctively retreated.
"How is that possible?!"
"Natsu! Thank goodness!" Happy beamed, all his earlier worry and fear swept away.
The pillar of fire condensed into a massive flaming dragon claw, gripping the railway tracks tightly. With a roar, Natsu shot up out of the canyon and landed firmly on the ground.
"Man, that scared me… So I just needed to change the nature of my flames, huh? Nice one, Macao. Thanks." Natsu grinned, staring at his own fist.
"What… what was that just now?" Erigor muttered, unable to believe what he had seen.
"Hey, you're dressed so lightly—you might catch a cold. Let me warm you up a bit."
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
Natsu inhaled deeply. A crimson magic circle appeared as he brought his fists together before his mouth, then unleashed a blazing torrent of fire straight at Erigor.
"You're one to talk!" Erigor snapped back, instantly casting his defense. "Storm Wall!"
A violent airflow formed an invisible wind barrier in front of him.
The blazing roar collided with the wind barrier, erupting in a massive explosion and clouds of smoke.
"Incredible power… This brat fights nothing like other fire mages. Completely unpredictable. Is this what Fairy Tail wizards are like?" Erigor thought, alarm flashing in his eyes.
"I underestimated you. Now I'll get serious—try not to beg for mercy." Magic power surged around him as he glared at Natsu.
"Heh, I was hoping you'd say that." Natsu grinned, battle spirit blazing in his eyes.
"Hmph. Storm Armor!"
Erigor spun his scythe rapidly. A massive violet magic circle enveloped him as raging winds gathered, forming a full-body storm armor that surrounded him completely.
"Now die!"
Wrapped in violent winds, Erigor charged forward. Natsu met him head-on with a Fire Dragon's Iron Fist—
—and was instantly blown away.
His flames were extinguished on contact.
"What?!"
"What's wrong? Is that all you've got?" Erigor mocked.
"That's impossible… my flames just vanished!"
Natsu refused to believe it. He tried Fire Dragon's Roar, then Fire Dragon's Hook—
But every attack was repelled. The moment they touched the storm armor, he was knocked back, his flames snuffed out. Several times, he nearly got blasted into the canyon.
"Damn it… It's like a typhoon. At this rate, I can't even get close, let alone use fire. I need another plan…"
He raised his arms defensively, narrowing his eyes as he analyzed Erigor.
"No flames, no power. Then die!"
"Storm Laser!"
Erigor gave no time to think. With a wave of his hand, countless wind blades shot toward Natsu.
Natsu leapt and dodged frantically, his expression growing more serious.
"Hahaha! What's wrong, kid? I thought you were impressive. Now disappear!"
"Wind Magic: Emerald Gale!"
Hovering in the air, Erigor spread his arms as multiple violet magic circles spun into existence. The winds converged into a devastating, slicing gale that surged toward Natsu.
"This is bad! If that hits, you'll be torn to pieces! Natsu, dodge!" Happy shouted in panic.
But Natsu didn't move.
Not because he wouldn't—
Because he couldn't.
Happy was behind him.
He took the attack head-on.
"AAAAH!!"
The gale struck him directly. His body was flung high into the air before crashing down like a ragdoll, lying motionless.
"Natsu! Natsu, get up!" Happy cried, rushing to his side.
Erigor hovered calmly, even sounding impressed. "Taking Emerald Gale head-on and still keeping your body intact… For someone your age, you're quite something. Don't worry—those old men will be joining you soon."
Natsu staggered back to his feet.
He tore off his tattered clothes and tossed them aside—only his dragon-scale scarf remained, fluttering in the wind.
His gaze sharpened like a blade as he locked onto Erigor, his fighting spirit undiminished.
"How pathetic… If you want the old man's life, then face me head-on in a fight to the death!"
"If you don't have the guts to fight me properly, then don't even think about making a move!"
With a roar, flames reignited around his fists as he charged again.
"You really are hard to kill," even Erigor admitted. Natsu was like an indestructible cockroach.
Once again, Natsu's attack was blocked. Furious, he grabbed the railway tracks and roared:
"Why can't I get close to him?! Damn it!!!"
Happy suddenly noticed something—the wind was being drawn toward Natsu because of his flames.
An idea flashed in his eyes.
"Forget it, Natsu. Let Gray handle it later."
"What did you say?! No way! I'm taking him down!" Natsu roared, his anger exploding.
Flames surged violently, even igniting distant mountain peaks.
"What terrifying magic… His emotions are affecting his flames. Emotional fire… I've read about this in ancient texts… No, that's impossible. How could a brat like him—"
Erigor's voice grew tense.
"Wait… even my Storm Armor is being pulled toward him?!"
"Now I'm ending this!" Natsu roared.
Engulfed in a pillar of fire, he became a streak of blazing light and shot straight at Erigor.
"Damn it!"
Erigor tried to defend—
—but the storm armor was shattered instantly.
Natsu slammed headfirst into Erigor's abdomen, sending him flying.
Erigor screamed in pain.
Natsu seized the opening, unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks—
and finally finished him with a decisive strike:
"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!"
Erigor lost consciousness mid-air.
His final thought—
So there really are still people who can use Dragon Slayer Magic…
Then darkness took him.
"Hah! Did you see that?!" Natsu boasted proudly to Happy.
At the same time, Aylin and the others arrived in the Magic Four-Wheel Vehicle.
Seeing the wrecked battlefield and the unconscious Erigor, Aylin smiled faintly.
"Nicely done, Natsu. Though… you look pretty rough."
"Shut up," Natsu shot back.
"Well done, Natsu. You and Happy did great." Erza smiled as the others stepped out of the vehicle.
But at that moment—
Everyone's expressions suddenly changed.
The Magic Four-Wheel Vehicle had somehow lifted into the air on its own, shooting off like an arrow—
and from inside, a strange, mocking laughter faintly echoed