[A dreamlike duel between Dragon Slayers has become reality—let the match begin!]
"It will be an overwhelming victory. Behold the power of the strongest guild." Jiemma declared, chin lifted in pride.
"Hmph! Go, Brats! Show them the strength of a Fairy Tail Mage!"
Makarov loathed Sabertooth—their rules were tyrannical, expelling members over trifles, and in a recent event they'd maliciously harmed Lucy, stoking his fury even further.
[The duel… begins!]
"Here we go!"
"Yeah!"
Sting and Rogue had just started to move when Natsu and Gajeel flashed in front of them.
Boom!
Both struck together, sending Sting and Rogue skidding back.
Natsu chased Sting, leg wreathed in flames, and kicked him high.
Gajeel appeared before Rogue, punched him down, then booted him away.
White Dragon's Roar!
Sting steadied himself and blasted a white laser.
Natsu twisted aside.
Shadow Dragon's Slash!
Black shadows coiled around Rogue's arm as he slashed at Gajeel.
Iron Dragon's Sword!
Gajeel's arm became an iron blade, blocking the strike.
"Hah!"
With a fierce swing, he hurled Rogue through the air.
Smack!
Natsu grabbed Rogue's face and shoved him straight at Sting.
"Rogue!"
Sting reached to catch him, only for Natsu to burst from behind, fists ablaze.
Fire Dragon's Wing Strike!
The pair were blasted away.
[What… what is this? Sabertooth's mighty Twin Dragons of Fiore are being dominated!]
Sting rose slowly, wiping his mouth. "They're strong, alright."
Natsu scoffed. "That's the power that slew a Dragon?"
"We didn't just slay it—we killed it with these hands."
"Wasn't that your parent?"
"None of your business. Now feel the strength that can kill Dragons!"
White Drive!
Shadow Drive!
White light burst from Sting, black shadow from Rogue.
"Let's go!"
Each charged their rival.
Sting's fists blurred but Natsu blocked every blow.
"I've admired you, aimed to surpass you and now I will."
"Take this!"
White Dragon's Claw!
A white laser struck Natsu's stomach, branding him with a sacred sigil.
"The White Dragon's holy claw steals freedom from the body it scars!"
"Now I've surpassed you!"
White energy gathered in Sting's hand, only for Natsu to punch him in the face.
"Wh-why can you move?!"
He stared in shock, the sigil on Natsu's stomach had vanished.
"Not bad, but you're still green. Don't underestimate Fairy Tail!"
Sting and Rogue were pummeled again.
"Amazing! Then we'll go all-out too!"
"The White Dragon's fist turns even flame to ash—Dragon-Slayer Secret Art: Holy Nova!"
Brilliant white light exploded, the shockwave blinding the crowd.
When the smoke cleared, Natsu stood calmly, one hand gripping Sting's fist.
"No way…"
Lector gaped, unable to believe Natsu had caught the blow with a single hand.
"You've got to be kidding." Orga paled.
Rufus muttered, "I have no memory of anyone stopping that spell."
"Gajeel!"
Rogue attacked again, only to be flattened by Gajeel.
No matter how fiercely the Twin Dragons fought, they were driven back, overwhelmed. This wasn't a contest, it was a rout.
[Yajima-san, what is…?]
"Mm… the gap in skill is simply too vast."
[Who could have seen this twist coming? Sabertooth's Twin Dragons are powerless before Fairy Tail!]
[Is the match already over?!]
Even Mato, the referee, was dumbfounded.
"Hah… hah… it can't end like this…" Rogue struggled to his feet.
"Aaah… I always knew this wall wouldn't be easy to climb. I promised Lector—I won't lose. For Lector's sake, I absolutely will not lose."
Patterns flared across Sting and Rogue's bodies, their magic shifting.
"Wh-what is this?!"
Erza sensed something familiar—she'd felt it before.
"It's Dragon Force." Takeshi said.
He'd seen that power on the dragon that had broken its seal. The beast had come straight for the humans, so he'd cut it down.
"Dragon Force!" Laxus was stunned.
Dragon Force is the ultimate form of a Dragon Slayer—wielding the might of a dragon while still human. Only with it can a dragon be truly harmed.
"See this power? This is the real thing, the strength that can kill dragons. Unlike you First-Generation lot, we can tap Dragon Force at will. That's why we're confident we can kill Acnologia."
"Kill Acnologia?" Gajeel sneered.
"Tch, snot-nosed brats, quit joking. You can't even beat us, and you want to fight Acnologia? We'd be one-shot by him right now, let alone you."
Sting said, "No point explaining to them. Rogue, stay out. I'll handle this alone. I'll make them feel the gulf between us once Dragon Force is in play."
[Unbelievable! Sting, on the ropes moments ago, just declared he'll take on two at once!]
Yajima mused, "Looks like they're pretty confident."
"We're being underestimated." Gajeel growled, annoyed.
Natsu's face was grave. "This magic feels insanely strong."
"Here I come!"
Sting shot forward and Natsu was sent flying.
Iron Dragon's Club!
Gajeel swept a leg in a wide arc. Sting ducked under the Iron Dragon's Club and fired a magic bullet into Gajeel's face.
White Dragon's Holy Breath!
Leaping high, Sting blasted a fierce white energy sphere and the arena floor was shattered.
"What terrifying power!"
The crowd gasped at the destruction.
Fire Dragon's Sword-Horn!
Flames roared under Natsu's feet as he charged, wreathed in fire.
Iron Dragon's Roar!
Gajeel's blast of iron shards knocked Sting from the sky.
"The White Dragon's light purifies all!"
Holy Ray!
Beams of light rained upon Natsu and Gajeel.
"Aaaagh!"
"Ughaaah!"
Both Dragon Slayers yelled in pain, yet the moment they landed, they retaliated.
Sting held them off for a while, but soon Natsu and Gajeel were on the ground.
Rogue looked down at them. "Times change. We trained to become true Dragon Slayers for seven years. The old era is over."
[Both down? Then this match…]
"Hold it right there!"
Natsu pushed himself up. Gajeel rose beside him.
Natsu bared his teeth. "That power's nasty, every inch of me aches."
Gajeel scratched his head. "Heh, tougher than I thought. But you think that's enough to fight Acnologia? Don't make me laugh."
"Impossible! I was using Dragon Force!"
Sting couldn't believe it—he'd held nothing back, yet they were still standing.
"Sure, it's strong. But your being strong doesn't mean I'm weak."
"Damn, should've blocked with Iron Dragon's Scales. Getting pummeled by a couple of punks—how embarrassing."
"Gajeel, stay back. I'll take them both."
"Like hell! I'm fighting! Back off and watch me crush them."
"Rock-paper-scissors?" Natsu suggested.
"Bring it on—I'm not losing to you!"
Gajeel was confident he'd beat Natsu at rock-paper-scissors.
Rock-paper-scissors!
Right in front of everyone the two started playing. The crowd stared—was the decision really this casual?
First round: both threw scissors—tie.
Rock-paper-scissors!
Second round: Gajeel threw rock, Natsu paper.
"I win!"
Natsu whooped.
Gajeel slumped, stunned he'd lost at rock-paper-scissors.
Sting and Rogue burned with humiliation at being ignored while they played.
Clenching his teeth, Sting snapped, "You said one of you is enough—quit spouting crap!"
Rogue shouted at Natsu, "I'm not here for you! Gajeel, fight me!"
"Then come take me down!" Natsu beckoned them with a crooked finger.
"Dragon Force equals the power of a dragon—nothing stronger exists!"
Sting channeled his might and charged.
Natsu blocked. "You're short-sighted. This world has powers that match Dragon Force, and no matter how great the strength, it depends on who wields it."
Natsu's fist smashed into Sting's face.
Shadow Dragon's Roar!
Fire Dragon's Roar!
The two roars collided. Natsu's flames devoured Rogue's shadows and swallowed him.
"Ughaaaaah!"
"Not done yet!"
Sting rushed Natsu, only to be overpowered again. Rogue joined in, yet together, they were still suppressed.
"Sting!"
"On it!"
The two clasped hands, black and white energy swirling together.
"Fusion Magic?!" Makarov exclaimed.
Fusion combines two magics, multiplying their might. Etherion works on the same principle, just with more elements.
Holy Shadow Dragon's Fang Flash!
Dragon-Slaying Secret Art – Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!