While Gray and Juvia were entangled in their awkward standoff, elsewhere inside the Magic Colossus—
BOOM!!
Scorching flames erupted, raising the temperature around them as they struck the ceiling, sending chunks of rubble raining down.
"So you're the Fire Dragon Slayer, Natsu. How unfortunate for you to encounter me. Truly unfortunate."
Totomaru, the Fire Element 4 member, stood atop a broken pillar, looking down at Natsu below.
"Hey, are you stupid or something? I just ate your flames!"
Natsu pointed at Totomaru. "Fire's useless against me. Just come down here so I can beat the crap out of you!"
"Is that so? Then what about this?"
Totomaru swept his hand, forming a magic circle. A deep orange fireball roared forth, trailing waves of heat.
Without hesitation, Natsu raised both hands to catch the fireball and began consuming it.
Like any other flames, the orange fire was instantly absorbed, converted into pure magical power.
But—
"Bleh!"
Natsu's face twisted in disgust, like he'd just eaten something foul. He doubled over, gagging.
"You bastard! What did you put in that flame?!"
"Ahahaha! How did you like the taste of expired milk mixed with sewage?"
Seeing Natsu's reaction, Totomaru burst into shrill laughter at his successful scheme.
As a fellow Dragon Slayer, Gajeel sometimes cursed loudly when he ate rusty scrap metal.
Based on that observation, Totomaru had improvised this devious tactic.
Not particularly deadly, but undeniably nasty.
From an objective standpoint, it was actually an educational experience for Natsu—at least he'd think twice before shoving any flame he saw into his mouth.
Perhaps this was why, after the Phantom Lord incident, Totomaru would go on to become a teacher at a mage academy and earn a decent reputation...
"How dare you taint fire like that! Are you even a fire mage?!"
Having recovered, Natsu clenched his fists, flames blazing as he charged at Totomaru.
"By the way... you said fire is useless against you, didn't you?"
Totomaru remained calm as Natsu approached, his voice cold. "Then what about your own flames?"
Hum.
A dark red magic circle formed. With a mere flick of his fingers, Totomaru seized control of Natsu's flames, redirecting Natsu's fist burning toward his own face.
A dull thud echoed as the caught-off-guard Natsu punched himself and went flying.
"That's why I said you were unlucky to meet me. Because..."
Totomaru shoved his hands in his pockets, looking insufferably smug. "...I can control all flames!"
A wide castle corridor.
Elfman ran at full speed, eyes scanning his surroundings for anything that might be the Magic Colossus's power core.
He, too, understood the mission objective.
"If Mira says to do it, then there's no way I'm losing to Natsu and the others! I'll destroy the target before they do, no matter what!"
"This is my first operation with Mira since she unsealed her magic! So manly!!"
BOOM!!
Just as Elfman roared his declaration, the corridor ahead collapsed catastrophically.
As dust and rubble settled, a figure straightened up atop the debris pile.
Gajeel emerged from the settling dust. Recognizing Elfman, a wild grin spread across his face. "Heheh. Finally found one. Fairy Tail!"
"You're—"
Elfman skidded to a halt, sizing up this unexpected opponent.
When Jose and the Element 4 had made their grand appearance earlier, Gajeel had been squatting in a corner gnawing on iron, so Elfman had no idea who he was.
But judging by that ferocious magical aura, he was no small fry.
Elfman thought.
"Listen up! I'm Phantom Lord's ace—Gajeel the Iron Dragon Slayer!"
Gajeel puffed out his chest, arms spread wide as he announced his fearsome title.
"Iron Dragon Slayer?"
Elfman thought for a moment, then his brow relaxed. He slapped his fist into his palm. "Oh! I've heard of you."
"You're the guy Chase and Natsu stripped naked and hung from the clock tower, right?!"
Gajeel: "..."
BOOM!!!
A violent surge of blue magic erupted from Gajeel like a demon unleashed, causing the entire area to tremble.
"You bastard! I'll tear you to pieces!!"
Completely unhinged, Gajeel stomped forward, shattering the ground beneath his feet.
Facing this overwhelming, terrifying presence, Elfman showed no fear. He took a deep breath and stepped forward.
Crackle.
Black arcs of electricity jumped. A dark purple magic circle formed above him, pouring down the majesty of the Beast King.
"Hey, that graffiti on your butt must have washed off by now, right? I can touch it up for you—free of charge."
Having taken on the Beast King Soul, Elfman grinned and beckoned to Gajeel.
Gajeel snapped completely. Without another word, Iron Dragon Sword raised, he charged.
The two clashed violently. The shockwaves alone laid waste to everything around them.
The battlefield by the shore.
Having completed his full set of enhancements, Chase used the combined effects of Dark Magician Girl and the Magic Card Sage's Stone to perform a chain summon, special summoning Dark Magician. Final preparations complete.
"Yes! Finally time to go beat up that bastard Jose!"
Dark Magician Girl raised her pink staff excitedly.
Ever since learning last night what Jose had done, she'd been waiting for this moment.
"Don't be careless. The enemy is a Ten Wizard Saint on par with Makarov."
Dark Magician stood with arms crossed, his deep eyes fixed on the head of the Magic Colossus as he warned her seriously.
"Yes sir!"
Dark Magician Girl immediately snapped to attention, her posture even straighter than a soldier at parade rest.
"Let's go. Can't keep our enemy waiting." Chase said.
With that, he channeled his magic power and shot toward the Magic Colossus's head like a streak of dark gold light.
He had learned flight magic from Dark Magician and his apprentice.
Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl exchanged a glance. Their bodies glowed with dark purple and pink auras as they followed Chase to the command room at the Magic Colossus's head.
The Phantom Lord grunts guarding the entrance were dispatched instantly.
BOOM!!
The heavy doors exploded inward. The shockwave carried rubble through the pristine command room, leaving it in shambles.
"Don't you know how to knock? Didn't Makarov teach you any manners, brat..."
Jose sat with his legs crossed, one hand propping up his cheek, his head tilted as he watched Chase and the two Card Monsters step through the wreckage.
"Sorry about that. I actually did knock."
Chase stopped about ten meters from Jose, smiling. "But the quality of your doors is terrible, Master Jose."
***
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