Deep inside a lava cavern, a one-eyed yellow creature called Krekk flew around the place and was keeping his one eye open for anything. Too bad for him that something else found him first. He got blasted in the back by water. He looked behind him and spotted a creature called Owis. Krekk fought back as he launched some fire at him, but Owis moved out of the way. As this battle was going on, Erza and Lucy were watching.

"Hey, girls." They both looked to see Zach joining them. "What's going on?"

"Natsu's in the middle of a battle right now." Lucy said.

"He's battling as Krekk right now and his opponent is using Owis. They're battling in the Lava Pond." Erza sad.

"The Lava Pond? Well, that should give Natsu an edge because Krekk an edge." Zach said as he watched the battle unfold.

...

The Battle

"Delerium!" Krekk unleashed a small blast from his mind and it Owis right in the head with him getting all dizzy. Krekk used the opportunity to launch a blast of fire against Owis and knocked him down. "Just tell me if you've had enough."

"Not quite." Owis said as he got back up. Owis fought back and shot ice at Krekk. Krekk moved around and avoided each of his attacks. "You're going down, underworlder! Hydro Balls!" Owis shot balls of water from his eyes and they were closing in on Krekk, but Krekk moved away at the last moment.

"Smoke Surge!" Krekk unleashed some smoke and blasted Owis with it blinding him. "Pyro Punch!" Krekk launched fists of fire and blasted Owis right off the rock and into the lava and he was coded. The area changed back to the drone and Krekk became Natsu again.

"Yeah! I am hottest player around!" Natsu said.

...

The Portcourt

Natsu went back to the portcourt of Chaotic and he met with his friends. He was feeling pretty goo about himself after that battle.

"That was a pretty nice battle, Natsu." Erza said. "You've been starting to wrack a few wins since you first got here."

"Yep. I'm the best." Natsu said.

"Don't get a swell head. You're still a little new here." Lucy said. "You've been doing well here, but someone is bound to beat you eventually."

"Not happening. I'm not planning on losing here." Natsu said. "You want to know why that is. It's because I'm playing with the best tribe there is: underworld. They possess some of the baddest and hottest creatures. I can't lose with them." Someone was hearing Natsu gloat about his favorite tribe and he wasn't liking it. "I can take on anyone any day because underworlders are the best." As he was talking, that person came over and poured water on his head.

"Sorry, but it did look like you needed to cool down." Natsu got angry and faced the guy who did it and saw him wearing dark pants with a white buttoned shirt and black hair. "Of course, that's what you get for yapping about underworlders. They're savages. Overworlders are the better tribe."

"Is that so?" Natsu said as he stood up and faced this guy.

"Gray... You know that wasn't nice." Erza said. Hearing her say his name was a surprise to Natsu.

"Erza, you know this guy?" Natsu asked.

"This is Gray Fullbuster. He's an old friend of mine. His screen name is Ice Buster." Erza said.

"Erza, are you friends with this guy?" Gray asked.

"This is Natsu. He's still kind of new. He's only been here for about five days." Erza said.

"Oh! No wonder he's blabbering like an idiot. He just doesn't know better." Gray said.

"What did you say?!" Natsu said as he was getting in his face and the two were already knowing each other.

"That's enough!" Erza said as she pushed them apart. "Play nice, both of you!" She glared at both of them. Natsu didn't know what it was, but something about that look in her eyes sent shivers down his spine.

"Erza's right. This isn't the way to fight. So what do you say we just skip to the good part and take this to the drones?!" Natsu said as he was eager to battle again.

"You don't wait around, do you? Okay. I'll take your challenge." Gray said. "How about we use three creatures and meet in the Hotek Drone in a half-hour? Erza, I don't suppose you want to help a friend out and tell me about this guy?"

"Gray, I can't do that. Natsu's my friend too." Erza said.

"Go on. Tell him. I don't care. I'll still beat him." Natsu said. Erza could see the determination in Natsu's eyes and could also see some arrogance.

"Fine, but it's only fair that I tell Gray's style as well. Natsu uses underworlders and he seems to prefer those that use fire. When they cant' use fire, he makes sure that they do." Erza said. "Gray is just the opposite. He uses overworlders, normally of all kinds, but he has a pattern of using those with water attacks."

"So now that we got that settled, see you in the drone." Gray said as he walked off.

"That escalated quickly." Lucy said as she can't believe how fast that went.

"This should be good." Zach said as they were looking forward to this.

...

Later

Once time ran out, Natsu and Gray went to the drone for their three-on-three battle. Natsu was confident in his tribe and in his abilities to win this.

'This guy has no idea what he's in for.' Natsu thought as he looked over his deck and set his team. 'Time to try out a few other scans I have. Pyrithion is a good way to go. I'll also use Magmon in this as well and give him an extra boost with Viledriver. I'll also use Gambreor and give him a pyroblaster so he can turn up the heat too.' Natsu set that and the rest of his team to be set for his victory.

"Players, lock your decks." Both of them locked their decks and they were ready to begin. "Because Fire-Dragneel issued the challenge, Ice Buster will be the attacker."

"Works for me." Gray said as he spun the location randomizer.

"The first location...Glacier Plains."

"Sweet. My favorite location. Kalt attacks Pyrithion." Gray said. They both selected their creatures and transformed as Gray became a yeti-like creature and Natsu turned into a snake-like one.

"Let's get chaotic." Pyrithion said. The battle began as the area changed into a winter wasteland. Pyrithion wasn't having a good start as he moved through the place and was shivering. "Maybe this wasn't a good place to start. I'm slithering on my belly in ice and snow. Where is he?"

"Right here!" Kalt called as he busted out of snow. "Rip Tide!" He launched a powerful blast of water and knocked Pyrithion right down. "What's the matter? Not so hot now?" Kalt unleashed shards of ice, but Pyrithion was able to move out of the way.

"Inferno Gust!" Pyrithion unleashed a gust of flames that blasted Kalt and had him moved back. Suddenly, a brace with a red jewel appeared on his arm. Kalt unleashed another water attack that blasted through and hit Pyrithion with it.

...

The Portcourt

"That's not good. It looks like he's using the Torrent Krinth. That increases Kalt's water attacks." Lucy said.

"This guy isn't messing around. He's doing his best to put Natsu's flame out." Zach said.

"What did you expect? It's practically water vs. fire here." Erza said. They watched the battle continue to unfold, but it looked like it was going to end. Kalt used his powers over water and created a vortex made out of water that lifted Pyrithion into the air. He had it come right down and slammed Pyrithion into the ground and he ended up being coded.

...

The Drone

"Okay. Maybe you're better than I thought." Natsu said as Kalt became Gray again. "That doesn't mean you're going to win. I'm walking away the winner." Natsu wasn't going down and selected the next location.

"The next location...The Lava Pond." Natsu looked around and saw the ideal match.

"Magmon attacks Blugon." Natsu said. They both selected their creatures with Natsu becoming Magmon and Gray becoming a blue furry. The drone changed and they were in the Lava Pond again with Blugon working up a sweat.

"Very funny." Blugon said. "Pyrithion was freezing, now Blugon was burning." He did get burned as lava blasted him in the back. He turned around to see Magmon piloting a viledriver.

"I'll make you burn." Magmon said as he drove towards Blugon. he launched more fire at him, but Blugon was running and avoiding those flames. Blugon kept running until he saw something that can help him. He crossed a narrow bridge over some of the lava and it was too narrow for the viledriver to get through. To ensure this works, Blugon destroyed one side so Magmon can't follow himself.

"Not so hot anymore, are you?" Blugon said.

"You think that will stop me?" Magmon said as he unleashed more blasts, but Blugon was avoiding them. Blugon unleashed some water and blasted Magmon with it. "You might be able to avoid some of my attacks, but what about this? Song of Geonova!" He played mugic and a green ray came and blasted Blugon. Magmon jumped off and blasted Blugon with some fire and coded him with Magmon becoming Natsu again.

"Now it's all tied up." Natsu said.

"Maybe, but we're not done here." Gray said as they went on with the battle. "Kalt attacks Magmon!" Gray initiated the attack, but Kalt ended up coded by the viledriver's flames.

"Magmon attacks Raimusa!" Magmon tried to end this, but Raimusa slammed the ground and caused rocks to shoot out of the ground and knocked him down a waterfall and coded him. It was now tied up with one creature left.

...

The Portcourt

"This battle could really go either way." Lucy said as she wasn't liking where this was going for Natsu. "That Gray has some skills."

"You can say that again. Gray certainly is a tough guy to beat." Erza said. "Although, this battle could still go either way. They're now battling in Everrain and Gray's battling with Raimusa."

"But Raimusa can use water attacks. Water attacks are stronger there." Zach said.

"But Raimusa can also use earth attacks. Earth attacks are weaker there." Lucy said. "Plus Raimusa can't use any mugic now. Natsu might win this if he just watches out for those water attacks."

...

The Drone

Natsu was Gambreor now and tried fighting. He took a pyroblaster and tried blasting Raimusa, but Raimusa avoided his fire attacks as he kept running.

"Running away?" Gambreor said.

"Not quite." Raimusa said as he turned to fight them. "Rainspears!" Raimusa unleashed spears made of rain water and blasted Gambreor. Gambreor rolled against the ground, but he still aimed and fired some flames with Raimusa getting blasted. "That's it. I think it's time to turn up the heat." That was when he gained battlegear. "This mugician's lyre gives Raimusa a mugician. That allows me to play this."

"What?" Gambreor questioned.

"Hymn of the Elements, give me fire power!" Raimusa used mugic and it granted him power. "I'll fight fire with fire. Ember Swarm!" Raimusa was now able to use fire attacks and blasted Gambreor with ember. "Steam Rage!" raimusa used that attack and blasted Gambreor with it and Gambreor ended up coded. With that done, they were back in the drone with Gray changing back.

"The winner: Ice Buster."

"Darn it!" Natsu said as he can't believe he lost.

"Don't get so bent out of shape. You can't win them all." Gray said as he walked over and held out his hand. "It was a good match regardless." Natsu acted like a good sport and shook hands.

"Yeah, but I won't lost next time." Natsu said.

"Yes, you will." Gray said. They both tightened their grips with each other, telling the other they won't back down next time.

...

The Portcourt

"Oh man. what macho morons." Lucy said.

"Too bad Natsu lost, but it was still a good battle." Zach said. "Just look at those two. Natsu already has the hang of the battles, he's been on a scan quest, and now it looks like he's got his own little rival. He's practically a natural."

"You can say that again. I might have to keep an eye on those two to make sure they are well behaved" Erza said. Natsu really is fitting in well around here and there's a lot more to come.