Raizel hauled Laxus out of the smoking crater.
The Dragon Slayer was limp, his energy completely spent.
Makarov and Ur approached them, followed by a wide-eyed Erza and the other children.
Makarov walked up to his unconscious grandson. He picked up the coat Laxus had discarded earlier, dusted it off, and gently draped it over him.
"I'm proud of you, Laxus," Makarov whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
"You are not just Makarov's grandson. You are, and will always be, your own man."
Supporting Laxus's weight, Raizel grinned at the Master. "Gramps, are you planning to say that again when he wakes up?"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Makarov snapped, his face turning red.
He turned away sharply, though his small, trembling body betrayed his embarrassment at crying in front of the children.
Seeing the Master acting so flustered, Ultear and Erza stifled their giggles.
"Laxus Dreyar... I have witnessed your will." Mavis sat on a nearby rock began to speak.
She reached out her small translucent hand and gently stroked Laxus's golden hair.
Her eyes were filled with nostalgia.
"It is quite similar to yours, Yuri."
Erza watched the scene and her expression turn complicated.
"Is that... what the peak looks like?" She shook her head with a bitter smile. "It seems even when he fought me, Laxus wasn't using anywhere near his full power."
"You won't be weak when you reach their age, Erza. Believe in yourself," Ur said softly, placing a comforting hand on Erza's crimson hair.
Ultear nodded in agreement.
She had seen firsthand how brutally Erza trained; her time would come.
"Alright," Makarov announced, composing himself. "Let's head back."
"I think I'll go to Magnolia for a visit, too!" Mavis cheered, the feather-like appendages on her ears perking up with excitement.
...
The ship cut through the calm waters.
"At least with him unconscious, we don't have to deal with his motion sickness," Raizel joked dryly.
He was sitting on the deck, leaning against the railing with Laxus lying on a bench beside him.
"You fought well today," Ultear remarked, sitting nearby. "It's the first time I've seen you look so... serious."
Raizel gazed out at the endless blue sea.
"Laxus woke me up today."
He looked down at his hands. "I always say I can't slack off, but it seems I often do. In battle, I've been relying heavily on my speed and the durability of my Take Over armor. But today... my physical combat skills were completely outmatched. If he had activated that Crimson Lightning from the start, I might have been the one unconscious right now."
"No."
Makarov's voice cut in, its tone was unusually stern.
"If you hadn't meditated to boost your Magic Power, or trained your body as you have, Laxus would have surpassed you long ago."
Makarov walked over, his expression serious as he addressed not just Raizel, but the younger generation listening nearby.
"Laxus pursues the Ultimate Body and Ultimate Strength. That is his way. But you can pursue other paths. There is no shame in relying on sturdy armor or incredible speed. Using your own unique advantages to defeat your opponent is the essence of combat."
He looked at Erza, Ultear, Cana, and Kagura.
"Listen carefully. Ultimate Strength, Ultimate Speed, Ultimate Magic, Ultimate Technique—these are all valid paths to the peak. But Balance is also a path."
"Find what suits you. Do not doubt it. Walk forward with determination, and do not worry about the opinions of others. Whether it is right or wrong, you will only know by walking the path yourself. You are still young! So what if you take a wrong turn? You simply stand up, dust yourself off, and keep walking."
Ultear, Cana, and Erza straightened their backs, responding with a spirited "Yes!"
Kagura didn't fully comprehend the depth of his words yet, but she nodded along with her sisters.
Someday, she would also find her own way!
Makarov's stern demeanor vanished, replaced by his usual playfulness.
He tapped Raizel on the head with his cane.
"Besides, you're just a brat who won't turn sixteen for a few more days. What more do you want? Your path is still very long."
"Yeah," Raizel smiled.
He relaxed, lying back on the deck to watch the clouds drift by.
...
Magnolia Hospital
Laxus opened his eyes.
Sterile white ceiling. Bright magic bulbs. The smell of antiseptic.
He tried to push himself up, but his body screamed in protest. He looked down to find himself swathed in bandages like a mummy.
'Magnolia Hospital?'
Pain was his only reality.
Even the simple act of shifting his weight made him feel as though his bones were grinding together.
He had pushed himself to the absolute limit.
"Did I... lose?"
Laxus looked at his trembling hand, clenching and unclenching it slowly.
Click.
The door slid open as Raizel walked in.
He wasn't unscathed either; his arms and abdomen were wrapped in bandages, and a large patch covered his cheek.
"You're awake," Raizel said casually, lifting a lunch box. "Can you eat?"
Minutes later, Laxus was sitting up, picking at the hospital food on the small bedside table.
Mid-bite, he looked up at Raizel.
"I lost."
Raizel didn't respond to that. He just took a bite of an apple.
Laxus asked another question. "How long was I out?"
Raizel held up two fingers. "Two days. Gramps wanted to stay here and keep watch, but I kicked him out and sent him home to rest."
Raizel grinned, the expression looking slightly lopsided due to the bandages on his face.
"Gramps said a few things after you passed out. Want to hear them?"
Laxus paused.
He slowly shook his head, then closed his eyes, sinking into the memory of a warm coat and a trembling voice.
"I think I heard it," Laxus murmured. "I wasn't sure... but seeing you looking this smug, I guess I really did hear it."
Raizel tilted his head, feigning annoyance.
"Tch. Ruined my fun why dont you."
"In the end, I still lost," Laxus said, his voice firm but devoid of bitterness. "But... it was an amazing fight."
He raised a bandaged fist.
Raizel gently bumped it with his own.
"Gramps already submitted your documents to the Council," Raizel said. "Next year, you'll officially be an S-Class Mage. The second floor and S-Class quests are yours."
Laxus nodded indifferently.
The title meant little to him; he would only celebrate when he finally defeated Raizel.
"That Crimson Lightning..." Raizel's tone turned serious. "Can you still activate it?"
Laxus frowned, trying to recall the sensation of that final punch.
The fusion of three powers. The raw, destructive potential.
"What was that?" Even Laxus was surprised by its potency.
He closed his eyes, trying to summon a spark of it.
Nothing happened.
He shook his head with a bitter smile. "No way. It's gone. I can't activate it at will."
Raizel had expected as much.
That Crimson Lightning was the manifestation of six years of obsession, a miracle born from desperation.
"It's fine," Raizel said, standing up. "Just train again. That punch was terrifying, Laxus. I genuinely felt fear from that."
Laxus clenched his fist, determination burning in his eyes.
"Yeah. Besides physical training, mastering that Red Lightning is my new goal."
"Once I've mastered it... let's have a rematch."
"I won't stay stagnant either," Raizel promised.
The door slid open again.
This time, a small, elderly figure appeared.
The moment Makarov saw Laxus sitting up, awake and alert, his eyes welled up with tears.
He rushed into the room.
Raizel quietly stood up and slipped out the door, leaving the space for the grandfather and grandson.
He walked out into the hospital courtyard.
Raising a bandaged hand, he shielded his eyes from the sun and gazed up at the azure sky.
"The weather," Raizel murmured to himself with a contented smile, "is really nice today."