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Magnolia Train Station.
When the train from the town smoothly pulled to a stop, two figures, enduring the discomfort of motion sickness, stumbled out of a rear carriage in a panic.
As soon as their feet left the mode of transport, the negative effects of Dragon Slayer Magic disappeared, and strength and spirit returned to Natsu and Gajeel.
"Huff... huff..." Natsu panted, one hand on his knee, the other wiping cold sweat from his forehead.
Gajeel rubbed the goosebumps on his arm, looking with lingering fear at the carriage behind him, as if it contained some monstrous beast.
Noah walked out of the carriage with a cheerful smile in the corner of his eye. "Hey, hey, I just touched you guys. Do you two grown men really have to act like your innocence was defiled?"
"Being pawed at by a creepy-looking member of the same sex—it'd be weird not to be disgusted."
Erza followed Noah's steps, voicing her complaint.
If she didn't know Noah's personality so well, understanding that he was just playfully teasing Gajeel and Natsu for fun, she might've thought he was into guys.
Mira, however, had no particular thoughts. After all, when it came to cunning, no one in the guild was darker than her. Pranks were something she'd long grown tired of.
Lucy led the six children off the train. As one of the few educated people present, she keenly sensed that Noah seemed to have discovered something about the four Dragon Slayers. After some thought, she asked. "Noah, is there something wrong with Natsu and the others?"
Noah smiled and walked toward the guild without saying anything. After all, he couldn't very well say that he'd discovered their "Dragon Dads" inside Natsu, Gajeel, Sting, and Rogue.
Iron Dragon Metalicana, White Dragon Weisslogia, Shadow Dragon Skiadrum, and Fire Dragon King Igneel, one of the renowned Three Dragon Kings from over four hundred years ago... Through his final conversation with Fire Dragon King Igneel's spirit, Noah learned that these four Dragons had all used the Dragon Clan's secret Dragon Soul Technique to reside within the bodies of their respective foster children.
In that case, Sky Dragon Grandeeney should also be inside Wendy.
It was truly amazing how such massive Dragon bodies could merge into tiny human bodies, even those of young children, without causing any harm to the host. This Dragon Soul Technique was indeed miraculous.
The Dragon Clan truly deserved to be the former overlords of the world.
Noah didn't have a deep conversation with Igneel. Natsu and the others weren't going anywhere. He'd have plenty of time to communicate with this Dragon King and satisfy his curiosity later.
Gajeel had already recovered. Being smarter than Natsu, he realized that Noah had deliberately played a trick on him and Natsu, and his hot temper immediately flared up.
"Damn Noah, you dared to trick me!"
After Doran's hammer training and single-handedly defeating Jose, Gajeel's confidence was soaring. Already fond of fighting, he was eager to clash with Noah.
You wanna fight me?
The iron-scaled fist, covered in a dark sheen, came with fierce momentum. Noah's lips curled slightly. He didn't dodge, allowing the fist—a combination of Dragon Slayer Magic and Armament Haki—to land on him.
Gajeel's eyes widened. Although he hadn't used his full power, he'd put in six or seven tenths of it, yet this punch had no effect on Noah at all.
There were no magical fluctuations whatsoever—he'd endured it with only his physical body! Was this even a human being?!
But the tingling sensation from the side of his fist surprised Gajeel even more. This feeling... like electricity? But why's there no Magic?
A bad premonition appeared in Gajeel's heart.
Amidst his surprise and confusion, Gajeel only saw a fist rapidly enlarging before his eyes, moving at a speed he couldn't react to, no matter what he did.
Bang!
Gajeel's iron head slammed heavily onto the ground.
His advanced Armament Haki and his partially mastered Dragon Slayer physique were utterly powerless against this single punch.
Superpower, kid!
Noah retracted his hand, surprised and amazed by the power of his ability.
It was just the initial stage—it hadn't even reached the advanced level, which truly uses this power—yet his body, strengthened by this ability, could withstand Magic and Haki... It truly deserved to be a superpower capable of becoming a "god."
"I gave you a chance, but you're no good."
Noah picked up the dazed Gajeel with one hand and then glanced at Natsu, who was still bewildered but eager to jump in for a beating.
This guy really has nothing but fighting on his mind...
His gaze then swept over Sting and Rogue, who looked astonished. Noah smiled. "Work hard to get stronger. Only by constantly getting stronger will you have a day to meet your Dragons."
"Eh! Noah, what do you mean?!"
"Could it be that you know Igneel's whereabouts?"
Ignoring Natsu's shouts, Noah turned and leisurely walked toward the guild. He seemed to be walking slowly, yet even Erza and Mira couldn't keep up with him.
Erza looked at Noah's retreating figure, her eyes flickering.
A few months ago, Noah was a visitor from a parallel world who knew nothing about Magic.
But now, his strength had grown to a terrifying degree that she couldn't even fathom, and he also possessed a set of mysterious abilities that didn't seem like Magic...
Her crimson hair swayed slightly in the wind, and the girl's eyes gradually firmed. What Noah had said to the four Dragon Slayers had also resonated with her heart.
Work hard to get stronger!
I'll definitely catch up to you, Noah!
As former arch-rivals and temporary best friends, Mira immediately saw through Erza's thoughts. "Erza, you're not thinking about catching up to Noah, are you?"
"Well, I definitely have to be ahead of you. After all, I met Noah first."
Watching the white-haired girl suddenly run past her and ahead, Erza curved a faint smile and quickly chased after her. Whether it was in terms of strength or pursuing Noah himself, she wouldn't allow herself to lose to Mira.
Seeing the Red and White Devils suddenly start running, Natsu, though he didn't know what was happening, shouted his catchphrase, "I'm all fired up!" and then joined what he thought was a speed competition.
Gajeel naturally wouldn't miss out on this either. His damned competitive spirit wouldn't let him fall behind Natsu. He couldn't beat Noah, but he couldn't even beat Natsu?
Outside the station, a gentle breeze blew by.
The abandoned Lucy awkwardly stared at the six children, who stared back.
Minerva silently sighed in her heart.
So these are the Mages of Fairy Tail. How peculiar. The thought of joining that guild soon makes me feel utterly unlucky...