Ignia, for reasons known only to himself, chose to suppress his power and engage Drake in combat.
But even facing Ignia in his human form, Drake had no choice but to exert his full power.
Ignia claimed to have surpassed Acnologia, and Drake couldn't be certain if that was true. But the reason for his confidence was sound.
Having inherited Igneel's blood, Ignia's talent was undoubtedly among the most exceptional of the dragon race.
Although he had been forced to flee from Acnologia in disgrace four hundred years ago, he had spent those four centuries honing his skills, all in preparation for defeating Acnologia.
Four hundred years was an eternity for a dragon, long enough for him to accumulate power beyond human comprehension.
Even with his advantages, Drake couldn't ignore the disparity in their life spans and training; he couldn't presumptuously claim to have surpassed Ignia.
So, from the very start, Drake activated both his Dragon Force and Dragon Flame Armor. Simultaneously, the skill "Dragon Slayer" took effect, and Drake charged at Ignia with overwhelming force.
Ignia scoffed, "Such paltry tricks!"
Few could face Drake at full power with such nonchalance, but Ignia certainly had the confidence to back it up.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
The two chose the same technique, and the moment their fists collided, the surrounding sounds seemed to vanish.
In the next instant, all the volcanoes in the area erupted. The force of their collision, and the clashing magic power, had ignited the volcanoes.
Lava rained down from the mountains, but was incinerated by the flames swirling around the two combatants before it could even draw near.
Neither side used any powerful magic, instead relying on the most basic form of combat: a brutal exchange of blows, testing their raw strength and magic power.
This was the way dragons fought. As the strongest magical creatures, dragons possessed far too many abilities that humans could never hope to attain.
Dragon scales possessed incredible magical resistance, and aside from Dragon Slayer magic imbued with dragon power, most human magic could barely penetrate a dragon's defenses.
Even in battles between dragons, melee combat was the primary method of attack.
Ignia threw a punch, which Drake managed to seize. But Ignia likewise blocked Drake's punch.
Their four hands locked together, the two combatants engaging in a test of strength. The ground beneath their feet cracked under the immense pressure, and magma seeped from the fissures.
The cracks grew wider and wider, forcing Drake and Ignia to separate. But in the next instant, they clashed again.
"Fire Dragon's Claw!"
Drake kicked Ignia's forearm, using the momentum to perform a flip, and then swiped at Ignia with claw-like hands.
"Fire Dragon's Crushing Fang!"
Meeting Drake's attack head-on, Ignia stepped forward, and Drake's fingers scraped against his chest, sending sparks flying.
Ignia then retaliated with a punch to Drake's face, sending him staggering backwards.
Standing on the scorching magma, Drake licked at a loosened tooth, a hint of mania creeping into his gaze.
The Development Ability [Fighter] activated, and the flames surrounding Drake intensified.
Ignia mirrored his expression, smiling as he said, "Impressive; you can still grow stronger. Give me an even more exhilarating battle!"
Drake didn't reply, instead instantly closing the distance and throwing a punch at Ignia.
While Drake didn't possess the strength that Ignia had accumulated over countless years, he had power drawn from different worlds.
And that power was something even Ignia couldn't ignore.
This time, Drake's fist connected squarely with Ignia's abdomen, and with a muffled thud, the ground behind Ignia was leveled by the force of the impact.
Even Ignia was forced to bend over slightly, his skin scorched by the attack. But his eyes gleamed with delight.
As Ignia had said, he craved a battle that would set his blood on fire. An enemy who couldn't even wound him couldn't provide such a battle.
And Drake had proven himself capable of igniting his fighting spirit.
Ignoring Drake's fist, Ignia retaliated with a punch to Drake's chest.
Drake's Dragon Flame Armor, composed purely of magic power, groaned under the strain, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.
Drake was momentarily stunned; since he had developed the Dragon Flame Armor, no one had ever managed to break it.
Ignia was equally surprised; he had put all his strength into that punch, yet he hadn't been able to completely shatter Drake's defense.
Drake regained his footing, and his fist ignited with searing white flames, which he slammed towards Ignia.
Seeing Drake's flames, Ignia's interest was piqued, and his fist was likewise enveloped in crimson flames, which he hurled towards Drake without hesitation.
What had been two small balls of flame on their fists suddenly expanded upon collision, transforming into a sea of fire interwoven with red and white.
Drake gritted his teeth; the last time he had been burned this badly was before he had grown strong. He hadn't expected that even now, he couldn't withstand Ignia's flames.
But these burns wouldn't affect Drake's combat ability, and Ignia hadn't been completely immune to Drake's white flames, which contained the power to slay dragons.
Drake leaned back to avoid Ignia's sweeping leg, but Drake's retaliatory punch missed Ignia.
Because Ignia had leaped into the air, and was now bringing his leg down in a powerful axe kick.
Drake crossed his arms to block Ignia's leg, his left leg buckling, nearly forcing him to kneel.
The remaining force was unleashed upon the ground, causing magma to surge like a tidal wave.
Grabbing Ignia's leg, Drake spun him around and slammed him into the ground.
Drake didn't dare relax, and raised his foot to stomp down. But Ignia, springing to his feet, kicked out, sending Drake flying.
Drake crashed into a volcano, shattering it into pieces.
Drake's vision went black for a moment, but returned to normal as he took a breath.
As soon as his vision cleared, he saw Ignia bearing down on him, his fist aimed at Drake's head.
"What's wrong? Is that all you've got?"
Each time his fist landed, the earth shook, and the volcanoes erupted, but nothing could drown out Ignia's manic voice.
Just as the bloodied fist was about to descend once more, it was stopped by a hand.
"Had enough? I think it's my turn now!"
Searing white flames erupted, blasting Ignia away, and Drake emerged from the crater.
Drake's condition was far from ideal; most of his Dragon Flame Armor had been shattered, and even one of the horns on his head had been broken off.
But his fighting spirit hadn't diminished in the slightest.
A rising uppercut slammed into Ignia's chin, sending him flying even higher.
Unleashing a burst of power, Drake pursued him, and with a punch from the side, sent Ignia crashing back down to earth.
Landing back on the ground, the red crystal-like armor on Drake's body shattered, transforming into twinkling red motes of magic power.
Dragon Flame Armor Second Form, Activated!
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