Natsu went on his own to Perim. He heard about some new battlegear and he's hoping to get a scan of it. He made his way through Khybon's forge. He heard a rumor that Khybon has got some new battlegear and he wants to check it out. Natsu was able to sneak inside and saw Khybon working on something.

"There it is." Natsu said as he saw Khybon working on some sort of armor. "That must be the xerium armor. I got to get closer to scan it." Natsu tried to make his way to get closer to the armor. What he didn't know was that he wasn't the only one down there.

"That should do." Khybon said as he added a few finishing touches to the armor. Natsu kept himself hidden and could see the armor was right there.

"Here goes." Natsu said as he pulled out his scanner and tried to get a scan of it, but he goofed and didn't take into account that Khybon saw the scanning process.

"A chaotic player!" Khybon said as he spotted Natsu and tried to attack him. Natsu moved out of the way, but the scanning process was stopped.

"Don't mind me. I'm just trying to get a scan. What's the harm in that?" Natsu said.

"Guards!" Khybon shouted. Khybon called for the guards and Natsu knew he was in trouble with them coming.

"This way!" Natsu spotted another human and he lowered a ladder to help him. Natsu moved as fast as he could and climbed up. Khybon wasn't going to let him escape as he fired an energy blast and broke the rope, but the human grabbed Natsu's arm and pulled him up. Natsu was able to get a good look at the guy and saw he looked all cool with shades, leather jacket, and all. "Come on!" Both of them made a run for it so they can port out.

"Thanks for the help." Natsu said.

"No problem. I'm Zane."

"Natsu."

"Did you scan that armor?" Zane asked.

"No." Natsu said. They saw them being shot at as they saw guards chasing after him.

"Time to port out." Zane said as he ported his code out of there. Natsu tripped and dropped his scanner. The guards were about to get him, but Natsu pressed the button and got out of there.

...

Chaotic

Natsu was glad he got out of there, but he was upset he didn't scan that armor. Once he made it back, Zane walked with him.

"Thanks again for the help back there." Natsu said.

"It was nothing, but I've got to say that was pretty careless of you." Zane said. "How could you just scan and not think about Khybon standing there? If you were a little smarter, you would have gotten a scan too." He showed his scanner and showed he had a scan of the armor.

"How did you get it?" Natsu said.

"I took it in a position where Khybon wouldn't have noticed." Zane said.

"Natsu, over here!" Natsu spotted his friends and went over with Zane following. "How did your scan quest go?" Zach asked.

"Badly." Zane answered for him. "He didn't get the scan of the armor like I did."

"Who are you?" Erza asked.

"My name is Zane. Natsu and I ran into each other and I bailed him out of that mess." Zane said. "Check it." He showed them a scan of the armor and they were all pretty impressed.

"That's so cool." Zach said. "I'm not sure anyone else really has a scan of that armor."

"Indeed. Quite the achievement." Erza said.

"Thanks." Zane said. He took a look at Lucy and liked what he saw. "Hey, you're Heartful-Star. You're that really cool overworlder player. You're a lot more beautiful in person."

"Oh... Me?" Lucy said as she blushed a little. Natsu's friends seem to be getting along well with this guy, but Natsu seemed to have been getting annoyed.

...

Erza

Zane befriended the others pretty easily, but Natsu got annoyed. He seemed like a little showoff in Natsu's opinion, but he just left it. He didn't think the guy was all that, but he left it. Natsu spotted Erza and went over to her.

"Hey, Erza. What are you doing?" Natsu questioned.

"Hey, Natsu. I'm waiting for Zane, Mister Cool." Erza said.

"Mister Cool? He's not that cool." Natsu said.

"No. I mean that's his actual screenname." Erza said as she pulled out a mugic scan. "I wanted to ask him about how I could use this really cool and really powerful mugic scan he gave me. He really just gave it to me since he had a spare."

"You mean he asked for nothing return?" Natsu said. "Big deal." Natsu just turned around and kept going.

...

Zach

Zach was enjoying some battles. Natsu found him and took a seat with him.

"Hey, Zach. I'm ready to check out this Gigantempopolis you were telling me about." Natsu said.

"Were we going to do that today?" Zach said. "I can't go now. I already promised Zane I go with him on a different scan quest."

"Say what?" Natsu said.

"Yeah. I didn't think you were free, but Zane told me about this great place where we could get a lot of cool scans. You should check out his deck. He's got some pretty tough scans." Zach said. Cool scans, cool personality, and now Natsu is annoyed by this guy even more.

...

Natsu

Erza and Zach might have taken a liking to Zane, but there was still one person he could talk to about this. He just needed to find her. When he couldn't fine Lucy, he gave her a call on his scanner.

"Hey, Lucy. Where are you?" Natsu said.

"In Perim. I got this scan of a great location and it was beautiful around this time." Lucy said. "We had an amazing time."

"Did you say we? Who are you with?" Natsu asked. She moved her scanner and showed Zane.

"Hey, hotshot." Zane said.

"What are you doing with Lucy?!" Natsu said.

"Just showing her this cool location like she said. She and I had a great time together." Zane said. Getting all chummy and acting cool with his friends was one thing, but trying to make the moves on his secret crush was where Natsu drew the line.

...

The Portcourt

Zane has really hit it off with the others and it was getting on Natsu's nerves. He watched his friends get along well with him and without Natsu. Natsu wasn't going to take this anymore as he marched right over to them.

"Hey, Natsu. We're all about to head to Perim again." Zach said.

"Yeah. Zane wants use to meet this cool creature he knows." Lucy said.

"I'm not going and neither is he." Natsu said.

"I'm not? Why?" Zane questioned as all of them were confused.

"Because you have a match...with me, right here, right now." Natsu said.

...

The Hotekk Drome

Natsu challenged Zane and he accepted his match. Natsu was setting up his team up with some force behind it. He just doesn't want to lose to this guy.

'So this guy thinks he's so cool. Everyone thinks he's so cool. Even the people I thought were my friends.' Natsu thought. 'Well I'm going to show them all that he isn't all that.' He heard his scanner go off and saw it was Lucy.

"Hey, Natsu. Is everything okay? You seemed upset earlier." Lucy said.

"Don't worry about it. Just watch your new best friend get clobbered." Natsu said and ended the call before Lucy could talk anymore.

"Players, lock your decks." Both of them locked in and it was going to be underworlders vs underworlders. "Because Fire-Dragneel issured the challenge, Mister Cool shall attack first. Activate your location randomizer." Zane gave it a spin and the first location was selected. "The first location...Stone Pillar. Choose the attacking and target creatures."

"Nauthilax attacks Magmon. A creature of water going against a creature of fire. This should be interesting." Zane said. Both of them selected their creatures and became them. This battle was on. Once the area changed to Stone Pillar, Nauthilax looked around for Magmon, but Magmon found him first as he was on a higher level.

'Let's see how this guy handles the heat.' Natsu thought. Magmon unleashed a blast of fire at Nauthilax and he got hit by it. Nauthilax rolled out of the flames and was able to spot Magmon. Nauthilax pulled out his torrent krinth and unleashed a blast of water, but it hit the rock Magmon was standing on.

"Ha! Try aiming!" Magmon called, but the rock he was standing on broke and he began to fall. Magmon reached out and was able to grab a ledge, but it wasn't looking good for him.

"Sludge Gush!" Nauthilax launched sludge and blasted Magmon with it. The sludge loosened his grip and Magmon fell off the pillar and ended up crashing into the ground with him getting coded.

"Talk about barely holding on." Zane said. Zane was having fun, but Natsu wasn't.

'I'm not losing to this guy. No way.' Natsu thought as he gave his locations a spin.

"The next location...the Lava Pond."

"Pyrithion attacks Illazar!" Natsu said. Once Natsu selected the creatures, Pyrithion slithered around the lava and was looking for Illazar.

"Come out, come out, Illazar! Are you really a coward on the inside?" Pyrithion taunted. He looked around for him, but he heard a sound and saw Illazar with a torwegg flying in.

"Cyclone Slam!" Illazar unleashed his attack and blasted Pyrithion with it.

"You were saying?" Illazar questioned. Pyrithion got back up and pulled out his own battle gear: grapple gloves. Pyrithion launched one and it latched around Illazar's leg.

"Now I've got you!" Pyrithion said as he tried to pull him closer. Illazar tried to get out of it, but he got an idea. He had his Torwegg on full power and tried flying in the opposite direction. Pyrithion was being dragged against the ground and he couldn't stop until Illazar flew over the lava and Pyrithion got coded.

...

The Portcourt

"Now that's what I call hot." Zach said.

"Ingenious. Zane really knows what he's doing." Erza said. They were enjoying the battle, but Lucy seemed concerned. "Lucy, is something wrong?"

"I'm worried about Natsu. He said something weird when I called him earlier." Lucy said. "Do you guys think something is bothering him?"

"What could bother him? Zane's cool, we all like him." Zach said.

"I'm not so sure Natsu does." Lucy said.

...

The Battle

"You really are a hotshot, literally." Zane said. "Of course, falling in lava gives it new definition." Natsu was getting really annoyed by this guy and he's not going to keep putting up with this. "Stelgar attacks Zaur!" Stelgar blasted Zaur with Toxic Gust and got coded.

"Chargola attacks Borth-Majar!" Natsu attacked, but Borth-Majar caused a rock slide and coded Chargola.

"Spyder attacks Bladez!" Spyder launched an electric web that caught Bladez and coded him as well. This wasn't looking good for Natsu at all.

"Don't take it so hard, Natsu. Anyone could lose five times in a row." Zane said. "I'm sure with a little practice you can do better and..." "Shut it!" Natsu interrupted as he couldn't hold his rage anymore.

"I know what I'm doing! I don't need any pointers from you!" Natsu said.

"Sorry. I thought we were having a friendly game." Zane said.

"Friendly? Everyone thinks you're so cool! You've been stealing my friends, but I'm not putting up with it!" Natsu said.

"You think I'm stealing your friends?" Zane said as he lowered his glasses and clearly saw Natsu was losing it. Natus' friends couldn't believe Natsu would even think that. "Should we take a time out and talk? Sounds like you've got some problems."

"The only thing I need is to beat you and Igneel is going to help with that!" Natsu said and continued the battle.

"The next location...Skeletal Springs."

"Igneel attacks Stelgar!" Once the creatures were selected and the tide of the battle started changing. Stelgar tried blasting Igneel, but Igneel kept flying around and avoided each of his attacks.

"Prowl Strike!" Igneel flew right at Stelgar and smashed right into him. Stelgar ended up falling back and fell into the springs with him getting coded.

"Borth-Majar attacks Igneel!" This battle happened in Crystal Cave. Borth-Majar tried blasting Igneel with an intense attack, but Igneel flew through and smashed against the two of them. Igneel blasted the crystals above and caused the crystals to fall on Borth-Majar and coded him.

"Igneel attacks Spyder!" This battle was in Fear Valley. Spyder looked around for Igneel, but when he looked up, he saw Igneel trying to lift a boulder. He tossed it down and that arachnid got coded.

"Nauthilax attacks Igneel!" Nauthilax tried blasting Igneel with water and it helped that they were in Everrain, but Igneel powered through. Igneel slammed his hands on the ground and caused lava to burst out under Nauthilax and coded him as well.

"Igneel attacks Illazar!" This battle took place in the air as they battle in the Stormgrounds. Igneel flew right under Illazar and used Inferno Gust. It blew Illazar straight up and right when he least expected it, a lightning bolt came down and coded Illazar for Natsu.

"There's no way you're beating me. Hear me?" Natsu said.

"Yeah. I hear you and I think we should talk." Zane said.

"There's nothing to talk about. Once I beat your last creature, it's game over." Natsu said.

"We'll see about that. Galmedar can be pretty tough as you will see." Zane said. They started their final battle and it took place in Gloomuck Swamp. Not good for a fire user like Igneel. It was even more troubling that Galmedar was wearing the xerium armor. Igneel tried using his whepcrack to help his fire attacks.

"Torrent of Flame!" Igneel tried using the attack, but it didn't do much against Galmedar wearing that armor.

"Granite Balls!" Galmedar launched the attack from his eyes and it bashed against Igneel. "You're out of luck here. Gloomuck Swamp weakens your fire attacks and strengthens my earth attacks. Vine Snare!" He stretched out some vines and they coiled around Igneel.

"Let's try this. Consuming Cacophony!" Igneel cast the mugic and it came down. It seemed to have some effect, but it wasn't as strong as usual.

"Nice try, but this armor makes it so the most damage I take is twenty. The odds are against you here." Galmedar said. He used Rock Wave and the rocks smashed against Igneel and knocked him back. Igneel isn't going to last much longer at this rate.

'There's got to be something I can do.' Natsu thought. 'Wait! That could work!'

"Flashwarp!" Igneel launched a blast of light from his hand and it blinded Galmedar for a short while. "Prowl Strike!" Igneel flew right at Galmedar when his guard was down and smashed right into him. Igneel flew fast and got behind Galmedar. "I've got you!" Igneel was about to finish this match, but Galmedar acted faster.

"Paral-Eyes!" Galmedar fired beams from his eyes the second he saw Igneel and blasted him with it and left him paralyzed. "Sorry about this. Terrantual Tackle!" Galmedar created a giant spider of stone and it tackled Igneel. All that power smashed right into Igneel and coded him.

"The winner: Mister Cool." Natsu couldn't believe he lost. He thought he would really come out in the end.

"Thanks for the match." Zane said.

"Whatever." Natsu said as he grabbed the scanner and just left the place. Zane felt bad for him and so did his friends.

...

Natsu

Natsu ported his code home and just sulked in his bed. He had a feeling things are going to be different from now on in Chaotic. He heard a knock on the door and saw it was Lucy.

"Hey. You just left Chaotic. I wanted to make sure you were okay." Lucy said.

"I'm fine." Natsu said.

"Doesn't sound fine." Lucy said. "Natsu, what was that all about? Zane was really cool and really nice. What was your problem?"

"He's my problem!" Natsu said as he sat up. "I thought he was a little obnoxious and a showoff, but you guys obviously like him. So why don't you go hang with him and I'll just see you around."

"Boy, you are an idiot." Lucy said as she walked over and sat on his bed. "Zane really is a nice guy. He wasn't trying to steal us from you. He was just trying to make a good impression and make new friends. Yeah, he was cool. So what? You and I've been friends for years. You really think I'm going to throw that all away just because someone new and cool comes around?" Now that she says all that, Natsu realized he was acting silly. He just got annoyed with the guy and thought his friends liked him more.

"I guess I did let a little jealousy get the better of me." Natsu said.

"A little?" Lucy said with a laugh. "Come on. How about we go grab a pizza or something? Just the two of us. You're buying of course."

"Yeah, yeah." Natsu said as the two of them headed out as the friends they still are.