"I-I can't believe it," the turquoise-haired teen stuttered in disbelief. "H-he lost." She stared up at the stage where her boyfriend. had been knocked, no, blown off by the elderly competitor. It seemed so unreal to her and her companions, but especially her. He left her for several weeks just to train for this tournament and now he lost?!

"Wow," Oolong muttered. "I was expecting him to lose to either Goku or Natsu, not this geezer."

The best friend of the defeated opponent of Jackie Chun stared with tearful eyes. "Yamcha shouldn't have lost!" His squeaky voice cried out. "He's the strongest of them all!"

Bulma didn't know how to feel, should she go and comfort her boyfriend who just lost and tell him there was always next time or should she just leave him alone for now? Maybe she'll leave him for now and later take him out on a date! They've barely had any time together and on the times that they have, they were never alone. It seems their faithful animal friends are always around the corner, not to mention her parents!

Oolong awkwardly placed his hand on his fellow shapeshifter's back, patting him in an attempt of comfort. They were starting to draw attention from the crowd as his furry friend cried out that the match was unfair. Bulma wasn't any help as she had a smirk playing on her face, making Oolong slightly afraid.

"Don't worry Krillin maybe the old man just got lucky," Goku tried to calm his friend. They were both backstage again and were waiting for their friend.

"First I'm against a sewer-face and now I'm up against a superhero," Krillin wondered why the world was against him today.

Natsu was about to comment to his friend when he noticed their other friend coming back. "Yamcha!" Both boys turned around, seeing their friend coming back in. "Ah, Yamcha!" Goku calls out ready to go to him.

"Hey wait," Krillin stops them both from confronting Yamcha. "He might not be in the mood to talk right now guys."

Natsu gave a frown hoping he wouldn't take the loss too badly. Goku had similar thoughts to his friend, and all just stared at Yamcha coming with Jackie Chun.

Yamcha stopped walking and then turned to face the elder. "That last move...I couldn't even see it." The attack came faster than he thought possible.

"It's energy from within," the old man told the teen. "Maybe someday I'll teach you how to do it."

Yamcha stared at the elder with curious eyes, the elder looked pretty familiar to him. "Say don't I know you...from somewhat-"

"NOW EVERYONE IT'S TIME FOR BATTLE NUMBER THREE!" announcer Ken's voice boomed throughout the place, interrupting any talk. "NATSU AND NAM, PLEASE COME TO THE STAGE!"

Natsu blinks once, then twice, staying in place. He stared at the wall blocking the arena and took a moment to process what was just announced. He felt his heart racing and a toothy grin started to form on his face. He couldn't wait to show off his strength. "Let's do this!" He said excitedly.

The crowd cheered with excitement; each person had a grin on their face, arms raised thrilled at the next battle taking place.

The crowd surrounded the stage, almost as if enclosing the fighters, all cheering for a preferred fighter to win and beat the other off the stage or knock them unconscious.

"Natsu, Natsu!"

He could hear his name being called by multiple bystanders, more than just all his friends in the crowd. The sound of his competitor's name was also being chanted.

"Nam, Nam!"

It was almost funny, they were both new to the tournament but there were already people who sided with one of the two.

"Alright, LET THE THIRD MATCH BEGIN!"

Natsu stretched his legs, preparing to fight Nam. He's sure the fighter was kept waiting because of his nap. He was determined to give it his all and defeat this guy, right after his warm up though.

Once he finished he got to his stance, facing his competitor Nam. With narrowed eyes he watches the other face him, stance ready and ready to fight, but his eyes didn't show him to be there. It was strange was this guy not taking him seriously.

Natsu saw Nam's eyes come back from his trance and made his move. He rushed over to the taller man with his flame-covered fist ready to strike his abdomen, but Nam was quick to block him using his elbow. He tried multiple times to hit with both fists, trying to get him to move the arm away or push his body back.

"Hai! Hai! Hai!"

Stopping his punches for a moment was enough time for Nam to strike back using his legs and feet to deliver strong side and front kicks.

"Hai! Hai! Hai!"

Natsu saw each kick coming and used his closed fist to block each one. He had to admit they were pretty strong and the thought excited him! Finally, he was able to fight someone worth the energy.

Nam knew the boy was strong. He had heard his friends were strong and they got through the preliminaries very easily. He predicted the boys would be close to each other's levels, and he was right. Natsu was a worthy fighter, but he wasn't going to let a little boy beat him for claiming the money and saving the village from dehydration and hunger.

"Tehh!" Natsu was forcefully pushed back from a crescent kick.

Retaliating, he ignited a fire on his foot and gave Nana a spinning heel kick. "Wahh!" Nam lost his footing, beginning to fall but Natsu wasn't finished.

"Haaa!" The boy gave the taller male an open-palm punch to the chest, making Nam fly off to one of the brick walls.

Nam was no amateur though. He was quick to angle his body to the side, having his legs bend, feet and left hand touching the wall. "Guhh!" He used the wall to propel his body towards Natsu's direction. "Teeehhhh!"

With no time to dodge, Natsu was struck on the back by one of Nam's rush attacks. He fell to the side with aching pain. "Oww!"

"I'll get you for that! Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu once again charges at Nam with both of his fists covered with flames. He sends out a flurry of punches which Nam does his best to avoid, he's slowly being pushed to the edge.

Nam lost his footing, but before he could fall off the stage he gripped on with both of his hands and right foot, preventing any part of his body from touching the ground. He lifted himself back up thanking the heavens for this fateful chance to win and bring home money for his village. "You dug your own grave!"

Nam was able to sweep Natsu's leg stopping his attack. He stood tall in front of Natsu who was still on the ground, "This is my chance!"

'Now I must end this now," Nam thought watching the boy. "His magic is more dangerous than a drought.

"There's only one way!" He declares, "Haaah!" He jumps into the air preparing his special move.

"Ah! Nam just made an incredible jump!" Ken said. "He flew high to the sky!"

Goku, Yamcha, Krillin, and Jackie moved to the hole, Natsu caused, to get a better view and stared with bewilderment.

"Take this! Tenku pekeji-ken! He announces his attack.

"Haaaaaahhhhhhhh!"

Goku seeing Nam aiming straight for Natsu, from a very high place, screams out, "NATSU GET UP!"

"Come on you can't just sit there!" Mira yelled out to him.

"Natsu get up!" Lisanna calls out along with her sister.

"...Eh?" Natsu started to get up and slowly saw Nam above him.

Nam saw the boy waking up, but stated, "It's too late! I must fulfill my destiny!"

Still in a daze, Natsu slowly sat up but didn't react until Nam landed on his chest, and crossed arms, not until he was hit. "Gah..." Just as he was about to get up, he passed out.

Goku stared wide-eyed at his friend who lay on the stage passed out. "No, Natsu!"

Nam got up as soon as Natsu passed out, muttering for the unconscious boy to forgive him.

"Ah...!" Ken still in shock started the count, "O-one...two..."

"He...he took it head on..." Yamcha gasps.

"Now he definitely won't be able to get up..." Jackie Chun told them.

"N-N-Natsu..." Krillin stutters.

"I, too, believe in the Buddha. I will not take a life." Nam spoke with his hands clasped together and head bowed. "But after taking that attack, he'll not wake for eight to ten days."

"Five...Six..."

"Welp guess that's it for Flame Brain," Gray spoke believing Natsu lost.

"Seven...Eight...Nine..."

Nam opened one eye when he could hear the boy's breathing pick up again. "Hm?"

Natsu lifted his legs trying his best to stand back up; surprising everyone at his fast recovery. "Te..." he gripped his throat in pain.

"He's okay!" Goku exclaims.

Natsu stood up giving a few coughs after taking that hit to the chest. "Oww, that hurts!"

"He's up!" Elfman says in surprise.

Makarov feeling the same as Elfman stutters, "Wha...what a crazy kid!"

"Amazing!" Erza says in shock.

Nam stared with his mouth agape. "Th-that's impossible." He couldn't believe his best attack failed.

"Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Absolutely Amazing!" The announcer was just as excited as the cheering crowd. "What a frighteningly strong body Natsu has! Now Nam's the one in a daze despite having succeeded in his attack!"

Nam watched with disbelief as the young boy cracked his neck. "N-no way! There's no way anyone should be able to stand after taking that!" He must have done something wrong. "That's it! I must've been slightly off with my aim."

"I can't afford any more errors. My aim must be perfect this time, They're all counting on me!" Nam set on repeating his attack and this time intending to succeed jumped to the sky once more. "Haaahh!"

"Ah!" Natsu stared above as Nam jumped high to the sky, above the clouds even!

"Ohhh! Nam has flown up into the sky again! Ken says, "This time his high jump is taking him even further upwards! He looks like a speck in the sky now!

"You're not getting me again this time!" Natsu began gathering his magic. "I'm fired up now!"

Nam dived down once again ready to put Natsu down this time. Natsu could feel the heat building up in his chest. He was ready to unleash one of his best attacks.

As Nam was reaching closer to Natsu he was prepared to strike, his eyes widened when he saw Natsu's cheeks fill up and his mouth open as he bellowed, "FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!"

A torrent of flames hurls towards Nam as he struggles to veer out of the way. He gets hit dead on with the attack as the flames burn his skin.

"Unbelievable! Natsu's fire magic has thrown Nam out of attacking position." Ken says.

Nam struggles to get up as Natsu's attack has left him weakened but he does his best to keep moving. "I can do it!" Nam told himself, "The victor truly will be me in the end!"

"I win!" Natsu says getting ready to win this. He jumped up and landed a flying kick to Nam, making him fly off the arena and land on the grass.

"Natsu is the winner! This means he will be going to the semi-finals! Spectacular!" The announcer declared.

The crowd roared in approval, the Fairy Tail members were amazed at Natsu's fighting prowess.

"Wow, he kicked some ass out there!" Cana says.

"I guess doubted him, he's actually pretty good," Gray admitted.

"Natsu Dragneel has won!" Ken screams to the microphone. "Despite his tiny body, he possesses unbelievable strength and magic," He turns his attention to Nam, who is getting back on his feet up on the stage. "Nam, after suffering a painful defeat, must truly be feeling ashamed! But he still displayed some excellent moves in that battle!"

The Buddhist, although saddened at the loss, still offered his congratulations to the young winner. He shook Natsu's hand before departing to the back of the stage; he still needed to think of a way to save his people, even if he had lost.

"You fought well out there young man." Nam looked to see Jackie Chun walking up to him.

"Thank you but despite that I wasn't able to keep my promise," Nam told him.

"Hm I see, so you really needed the prize money to help your village, I think I have something to help." Jackie Chun reached into his pocket and handed Nam a capsule.

"But how did you know about my situation?" Nam asked confused.

"Well, anything's possible when you can read minds," Jackie told him. "That well over there has plenty of water to fill that capsule, you can use it to help your village.

Nam was amazed both that he had a way to save his village and that this old man could read his mind. "So you're the invincible Master Roshi! But why would you hide your identity?"

"If my students knew it was me they'd hold back. I need to be a mystery man. Someone they've never met before and might never meet again. Just someone to challenge, a mountain to climb." Roshi explained.

"I see, well I'm eternally grateful, I just wish I could pay you back," Nam said

"Well, there's a favor I might need."

"NOW LET US BEGIN BATTLE NUMBER FOUR!" Ken called out. "IT'S GOKU VS GIRAN! BOTH CONTESTANTS PLEASE COME TO THE STAGE!"

Goku could hear his friends cheering for him from the crowd and happily skipped his last steps to the center stage. Laughing, he told the audience, "Hi everyone my name's Goku!" He wanted everyone to know his name and not get confused.

Ken seeing that Goku already introduced himself decides to start the match, "Now fighters ready?"

Goku and Giran both got to their own fighting stance, watching the other with narrowed eyes. They both stared each other down waiting for the signal, but right before Ken could say anything, the sky thundered and rain started pouring down at the audience.

With the weather scaring away the audience, the director decided to postpone the match until the rain had either calmed down or gone away.

With that, both opponents went off for cover until further notice.

To Be Continued...

Well, that's it for another chapter next chapter will be the end of the quarter finals and the start of the semifinals.

As for the "Who Goku marries" poll that will close after the end of this arc so just to remind you of the current votes:

Mirajane - 4

Erza - 3

Chi-Chi - 3

Other - 2

Don't forget to vote. And that's all for this chapter see you in the next. Arrivederci!