Chapter 37: A Dragon's Fire

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WARNING: This chapter will be slightly rated because of the profanities.

Summary at glance of Oscura Siete:

Accordingly to magic strength.

Shane Fhuyr (Leader of Oscura Siete): currently in battle with Vannessa Scott.

Rage Dmitri: currently in battle with Natsu Dragneel.

Seth Pristine: currently in battle with Gray Fullbuster.

Rhiannon Thea: currently in battle with Juvia Loxar.

Bobo & Popo (WON).

Fayne Lovelace (LOST).

"Oh would you look at that, it shows heads…you lose."

Appalling shock turned to starstruck fascination. Disregarding him, Natsu continued to admire the humanoid steel machine that stood before him, starstruck. The pink-haired Dragon Slayer was fascinated by the magically-constructed robot; he had never seen anything like it before.

"Sugoi!" Natsu gushed, suddenly forgetting about Rage. "I wanna have one too!" His face was shining with happiness as he examined the robot from head-to-toe. "This is simply awesome! The whole thing radiates of coolness!"

"CHOTTO, WATASHI NO HANASHI O KIITE YO!" Rage huffed, looking utterly peeved that he had been ignored. His fists were clenched in anger and irritation. This Dragon Slayer was starting to bug him.

"Eh?" Natsu spoke up, looking blank as if suddenly realizing that the Oscura Siete mage was there. "Huh?"

Rage sighed inwardly. Koitsu baka ja-nai…?

"Maa ii!" he recovered quickly. "Zenith 2.40, go forth and crush him!"

Natsu's eyes sparkled as he gazed at the robot in awe. "Whoooo! It's going to be a beam! He's going to shoot a beam from him mouth. I can't believe I'm seeing this with my own eyes!" the Dragon Slayer exclaimed animatedly. "Normally, this usually occurs in an animated cartoon!" His fists were clenched in anticipation as he waited for his predicted robotic 'beam' to come with bated breath.

Unfortunately to his dismay, it was not a beam instead more metal spheres spewed out of its mouth.

"Versatile Particle Explosion!"

"Nani?" Natsu gasped and somersaulted backwards just in time as the steel spheres exploded. "Those balls can explode?" His eyes almost popped out of its sockets.
"Stop fooling around, Salamander!" Rage snapped as he sent three more spheres in his direction. "Versatile Particle Explosion!"

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" the nineteen-year-old duly counterattacked and struck them down. However, they exploded one by one when they made contact with the Dragon Slayer and the force of the explosions sent him airborne.

Rage laughed. "What an idiot, the name itself implies a detonation, you know."

Natsu landed on the ground on his feet though a little awkward. He was caught off guard by that series of explosions. He wiped at his cheek roughly, an ugly bruise already forming on the skin where one of the spheres had smacked it and winced at the pain. "My turn," he growled. "No one gets away with hurting my friends. Fire Dragon Wings!"
Natsu leapt forward to attack, his arms covered in flames. However, the robot intercepted him and took the hit instead of Rage.

"So you decided to get serious, huh?" Rage sneered. "Demo, mou osoi! Zenith 2.40, crush him!"

A deep, dark chasm of a mouth, opened as the steel robot took aim at the Fire Dragon Slayer and fired off spheres at immense velocity.

The nineteen-year-old made a rude noise as he jerked himself backwards, avoiding them.

"You can't keep dodging my spheres, Salamander," Rage said, smirking.

Indeed…

Natsu knew he was speaking the truth but he had not a choice but to evade.

Those shitty things will break bones…!

The Dragon Slayer knew that the other mage was not going to give him a chance to counterattack.

How am I going to hit if he keeps firing those sphere things at me…?

"Amplify speed to 150 kilometers per hour."

Natsu's eyes widened in shock. "Nani?"

Without missing a beat, the spheres made contact with his abdomen, knocking the wind of him. They duly exploded before he could react.

"A few more of those and you'll be charred remains, Salamander," Rage told him with a cynical smile.

Natsu landed on his back painfully and a gasp escaped from his open mouth. His keen sense of smell told him that his skin was burnt as the stench of scalded flesh wafted through his reluctant nose.

"You are giving up now, Salamander?" Rage mocked. "Honestly, this fight wasn't even worth my time and effort, yet I took it seriously."

The pink-haired Fire Dragon Slayer made a rude noise in response and gritted his teeth as he forced himself upright, his spine protesting against the defiance.

Just then, Rage caught sight of something as a scornful smile played across his lips. "You're from the infamous Fairy Tail guild, huh?" He had spotted the red mark on Natsu's arm.

The nineteen-year-old did not answer him but continued fighting against the waves of overwhelming pain that was quickly threatening his consciousness.

"Rumors were spreading about tough mages being from that guild but you aren't even up to standard…" Rage continued. "I wonder if they are all even up to par just like I am."

At this, Natsu's dark eyes slid over to Rage's brown ones. "Take it back," the Dragon Slayer growled quietly, dark fury laced in his voice.

"Hmm, take what back?"

Natsu held his gaze steadily. "Take those words back, you bastard."

Rage raised an eyebrow. "And why should I? You are already close to dying, Salamander; and you're going against me?"

The Fire Dragon Slayer did not answer him but pushed himself back onto his feet. The Oscura Siete mage watched him impatiently, awaiting his reply.

Natsu smirked at him. "Yeah," he answered simply. "I'll make you take them back."

A wave of fury washed over Rage but he bit back a retort. "You can still stand after receiving those hits and explosions?" Rage said icily, a wicked expression on his face. "Too bad, there's still more from where that came from. Zenith 2.40, attack; increase velocity to 250 kilometers per hour!"

The robot complied and spat out, a wave of those metal spheres.

"Versatile Particle Explosion!"

"Fire Dragon Sword Horn!" Natsu's magic circle exploded from beneath his feet as flames ignited all over the Fire Dragon Slayer's body, turning him into a living inferno. Then, he propelled himself forward and charged directly at the oncoming steel orbs. They exploded, unleashing a cloud of smoke and dust.

Rage's eyes widened as he gaped mutely at a standing Natsu. That's impossible! How could he have taken a direct hit and still stand there…?

"You're next, Rage Dmitri," Natsu spoke up coldly. "Fire Dragon Brilliant Flame!"

As soon as he said those words, a giant fireball materialized from his combined flames from both hands and hurled it at the other mage.

However, Rage was ready for his counterattack. "Particle Cohesion!" He drew the remaining spheres before him to create the similar barrier that Natsu saw earlier on when he tried to attack. Nevertheless, Natsu's attack did work…sort of. The Fairy Tail mage had succeeded in breaking the barrier, creating yet another explosion. Both attacks were equally matched…but Rage knew something Natsu did not know. Using atom magic was indeed powerful, almost on par as being considered a Lost Magic but…it required lots of magic reserves. Rage was losing his strength. That was the reason why his barrier exploded when Natsu's fire collided with it.

Why, that annoying little dragon bastard…

Natsu was losing his energy, fast. He needed more fire power to replenish his energy should he desire to win this match, and to triumph against the Oscura Siete mage, Rage Dmitri. At least, he managed to break that annoying barrier that protects him.

Suddenly, he wished that Lucy was here with him…

She could give him the fire power he needed just like that time when he was fighting against former Phantom Lord member, Iron Dragon Slayer, Gajeel Redfox.

Both made no effort to conceal their heavy pants as they greedily sucked oxygen into their lungs. Each sized the other up, bracing themselves for any inevitable attacks. They were waiting for the other to make the first move.

Finally, after a moment's pause, Rage decided to take matters into his own hands. "Particle Disintegration!"

The magic-infused robot promptly disintegrated into its basic fragments; spheres of steel that were once remains of Delaney's sword.

In response, Natsu took a step back as he maintained a fighting stance; ready for Rage's opposing magic.

"You really don't know what you are in for, Salamander." Natsu did not like the look on Rage's face but he did not voice out his thoughts, choosing to remain silent instead. The Oscura Siete mage chuckled.

Without warning, two metallic silver magic circles erupted, one from beneath Rage and the other directly above him.

Nani…?

Natsu's eyes widened in shock as he gazed wordlessly at the brilliant spectacle that was taking place before him.

"You can back out now, you know…" Rage warned. "You'll die if you fight me now…"

Natsu smirked in response. "I never back down from a fight that I know Ican win."

The other man shrugged his shoulders, appearing nonchalant. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Mages always lose whenever I use this method…it's a 'sure-kill' ability." He extended one hand out. "You said you'll make me take back those words I've said…" Rage began.

"I definitely will alright," Natsu interrupted in a bitter sneer. "That's a promise. And when I make promises, I don't break em'."

The Oscura Siete mage fingered the coin once again before he flipped it. "This is the last bet I will place on this match, Salamander. Heads, my win. Tails, it's yours…" He caught it expertly in his hand and after a pause, he smirked. "It's my win, Salamander…" Without missing a beat, Rage unleashed his ultimate attack. "Particle Degeneration of Phoenix!"

Mini Japanese Translation Dictionary

-Sugoi: Amazing.

-Chotto, watashi no hanashi o kiite yo: come now; listen to what I'm saying.

-Nani: What?

-Koitsu baka ja-nai: Is this guy an idiot or what?

-Maa ii: Well, whatever.

- Demo, mou osoi: But, it's too late.