"Is this the Amaterasu style?" Laxus muttered. Only then did he realize he was entirely surrounded by the layered seals of Amaterasu: Formula 100.
"Descend!" Precht commanded.
A giant black energy sphere materialized out of thin air within the seal. The Fairy Tail members were sent flying backward by the sheer shockwave of the spell.
Various equipment inside the ship's main cabin was destroyed, sending up a thick cloud of smoke.
"Anyone hit by this move will lose all strength in their limbs, rendering them unable to take normal action," Precht lectured over the smoke. "Even if they manage to block the attack, the expended magical power required to survive it will be fatal."
While Precht was still speaking, a golden electric arc shot out from within the smoke, circling rapidly behind the dark mage and delivering a brutal kick to his back.
Landing gracefully on the wooden floor, Laxus stood tall, surrounded by crackling arcs of electricity.
"That's awesome, Laxus!" Gray cheered, punching the air vigorously.
"That strike just now only required the power of one of my legs," Laxus smirked, wiping his chin.
"But I still have another leg, two hands, and of course, my head and body. If I concentrate all my power into a single point, the force isn't just multiplied by a few times. Want to give it a try, old man?"
"How arrogant. The young are always impulsive and brash," Precht scoffed. "Unfortunately, in the true path of magic, what is truly needed isn't youth."
"Enough talk!" Laxus roared.
Their fists imbued with massive amounts of magical power, both men leaped high into the air and slammed their attacks forward.
The collision between the lightning and dark magic created another massive explosion that rocked the airship.
When the smoke cleared and they landed, Laxus dropped to one knee, panting.
In contrast, Precht stood tall, seemingly unscathed.
"What's wrong? Weren't you just boasting arrogantly?" Precht sneered. "Isn't it a bit too soon to be kneeling now?"
"Laxus!" Erza yelled.
"He was actually hit by the Amaterasu magic earlier, wasn't he?" Ultear realized.
Raizel nodded from the rafters. "Correct. What he said about one leg was true. That leg of his can't even stand up right now."
Laxus hung his head, gripping his trembling thigh with one hand while panting heavily.
"This world is truly vast and boundless. There are plenty of powerful monsters out there," Laxus chuckled, sweat dripping from his nose.
"I guess I really still have a long way to go."
Even as he admitted defeat, Laxus smiled.
"What are you saying?!" Natsu yelled.
"Pull yourself together, Laxus!" Gray shouted.
Natsu and Gray were deeply agitated by Laxus's sudden resignation.
"Laxus, you certainly have skill, but this is as far as it goes. Disappear with the rest of your guild!" Precht raised his hand and unleashed another Amaterasu magic attack, the deadly seal rushing towards Laxus once more.
Laxus neither dodged nor avoided it.
He simply smiled and released all his remaining magical power.
"Lightning... it's Laxus's..." Natsu watched helplessly as the golden lightning bypassed the attack and surged directly towards him.
BOOM!
Accompanied by a deafening roar, the entire airship shook violently, and a large crater appeared on the floorboards where Laxus had been kneeling.
"Laxus!" The members' pupils constricted sharply when they saw Laxus had vanished from within the crater.
"You fool, you actually dared to expend all your magical power just to pass it on," a voice sighed.
Raizel, hovering high in the air having used Take Over to become UlforceVeedramon, was casually holding the unconscious Laxus by his collar with one hand.
Hearing Raizel's voice and seeing Laxus dangling safely from the armored knight's grip, the members sighed in profound relief.
"Isn't this just me trusting you guys? Also... this is my treat, Natsu..." Laxus, having exhausted his magical container, could only manage a weak smile before passing out.
Natsu, kneeling on one knee with arcs of golden electricity dancing violently around his scarf, slowly rose to his feet while keeping his head lowered.
"Thanks for the meal..." Natsu whispered.
"Electricity?" Precht looked at Natsu's crackling condition with genuine surprise.
"That was all my magic power," Laxus had said.
"Nani?" Gray gasped.
"He gave all his magic power to Natsu?!" Erza realized.
"So that means... Natsu just consumed Laxus's lightning?!" Lucy yelled over the crackling noise.
"Why give it to me? I'm clearly much weaker than you..." Natsu choked back tears, speaking through gritted teeth.
"This isn't about strength or weakness. Have you forgotten who got hurt today? Those who harm Fairy Tail will pay a hundredfold!"
Laxus had actually planned this from the very beginning—he could see Natsu's boundless potential.
Moreover, Natsu had begged him for a taste of his lightning back at the guild hall before, though he'd never given it.
Combined with his already depleted magical power and injured leg, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to pass the torch.
"Understood!" Natsu wiped away his tears with his arm.
The orange flames and golden electricity around him mixed together, rapidly intensifying into a blinding aura.
"The fusion of fire and lightning... is this the Lightning Fire Dragon Mode again?" Gray asked, shielding his eyes.
"Not just that... those are two different types of flames," Ultear noted, her eyes widening.
Laxus had also given Natsu the lingering flames he had obtained from the Hellfire Dragon.
"Lightning Dragon, Fire Dragon, and Hellfire Dragon..." Wendy gasped, quickly grasping what Laxus had done.
After Raizel flew down and gently laid Laxus on the floor, he remained standing in place, dispelling his armor.
"Two dragons was terrifying enough, but three? I think Natsu might need to sleep for a month after this," Raizel muttered.
Raizel had originally intended to step in and save Laxus, but hearing Laxus's words and seeing him willfully surrender his magical power to Natsu made everything clear.
Since that was the case, Raizel decided to sit back and let Natsu show off.
"I will repay our pain a hundredfold..." Natsu slowly opened his eyes, glaring fiercely at Precht.
"Ahhhhhhhh!!!" Natsu clenched his fists and roared in fury, the sound echoing like a true dragon.
Precht maintained a calm and composed demeanor, preparing a defensive seal.
But the very next millisecond, Natsu's fist filled his vision.
Precht had severely underestimated Natsu's speed in the triple-elemental Lightning Fire Dragon Mode.
Though Natsu couldn't achieve true elementalization like Laxus, the golden lightning flowing through his muscles greatly enhanced his physical speed beyond human limits.
Natsu's fist, wreathed in roaring flames and crackling lightning, struck Precht square in the face, sending the Guild Master crashing violently into the ship's cabin wall.
Natsu pressed his advantage, instantly closing the distance and delivering a Fire Dragon's Claw kick directly to the top of Precht's skull.
After the flames scattered around Precht's body, a brutal bolt of lightning struck down from the ceiling, following the fire's path.
"Ahhh!!!" Precht screamed, nearly fried crisp by the combination.
"First attacking with flames, then following up with a lightning strike..." Gray, sitting on the floor, watched in stunned silence.
One could only say Natsu possessed pure, instinctual talent in combat, achieving this terrifying level of elemental control during his very first use of lightning.
"He's so amazing!" Lucy's eyes lit up upon hearing Gray's tactical explanation.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Loud explosions echoed continuously throughout the airship as thick smoke rose.
Natsu treated Precht like a literal punching bag, battering him back and forth with blinding speed, smashing the airship's interior to pieces.
"You bastard! How dare you harm our guild like this! How dare you attack Tenrou Island!" Natsu's face twisted with fury as he vividly recalled Gajeel, Elfman, and Evergreen lying severely injured back at the camp.
His rage intensified further, fueling the flames.
With another powerful, lightning-infused punch, he sent Precht flying across the room.
The sheer kinetic force of Precht's impact nearly flipped the heavy wooden floorboards upside down.
"You brat!" Precht cursed, spitting blood.
Orange and crimson flames coiled tightly around Natsu's left hand, while golden lightning gathered in his right.
He slammed his palms together, violently merging the volatile elements.
Leaping high into the air, he descended toward Precht on the ground below like a meteor.
"Vanish forever!!!" Natsu roared.
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