"You've got it all wrong," Kaien said calmly, arms folded. "First off, I've never once claimed to be the strongest. Sure, I've got a bit of vanity, but I don't crave being the strongest—I crave getting stronger."
"Second, I've never fought for the position of Guild Master. The old man tried to dump it on me—I said no because it sounded like a pain. Don't act like I'm some imposter heir stealing from the real one. I'm not interested in being the boss of Fairy Tail."
"Third, no matter how you frame it, that doesn't give you the right to threaten the lives of guild girls or force an all-out civil war. And now you're using the entire city of Magnolia as a hostage? What you've done is worse than any Dark Guild."
"And fourth…" Kaien's tone grew colder. "I've been sick of you for a long time. 'Strongest this, strongest that'—isn't it getting old? You want to prove you're the strongest? Go beat the Four Heavenly Kings of Ishgar. If you take them down, then maybe the continent will believe you."
Laxus's eye twitched. "I will. Someday."
He was prideful, not stupid. He knew the Four Heavenly Kings were monsters far beyond his current reach. Challenging them now was suicide. But give him a few years—he'd make the attempt.
Right now, though? His target was the man in front of him.
He would defeat Kaien Blaze—and claim Fairy Tail.
"Let's do this! I'll show you the difference in level between us!"
FWOOSH!
Kaien suddenly appeared in front of Laxus in a burst of speed—so fast it looked like teleportation. It wasn't. It was rapid movement powered by the effect of Cursed Technique: Blue.
His fist shot toward Laxus's abdomen.
ZAP!
Laxus's body blurred into gold lightning, reappearing behind Kaien with a feral grin.
"Raging Volt!!"
Lightning surged from his palm as he struck toward Kaien's back.
Kaien sprang upward, evading instantly. Laxus zipped along the cathedral's pillars, bouncing to the ceiling before dropping down behind Kaien.
His thunder-infused fist came crashing down toward Kaien's head.
Kaien tilted slightly. Just enough to dodge. Then he twisted, grabbed Laxus by the collar, and slammed him into the ground.
CRACK—!
The marble floor split apart under the impact.
"Spear of Lightning!!"
Laxus raised a hand, forming a glowing lance of electricity, and hurled it at Kaien.
Kaien turned with a flick of the wrist.
BOOM!
The spear veered into a load-bearing column, destroying it.
"HAAAH—!!"
Laxus roared and launched a lightning pillar from his palm.
FWOOSH!
Kaien vanished and reappeared behind him.
"Teleportation?!"
Laxus turned, but it was too late.
BAM—!
Kaien's left leg came crashing into his side.
"Gah!"
BOOM!
Laxus went flying, crashing through another cathedral column.
But in that moment—!
A golden magic circle formed beneath Kaien's feet.
BOOOOOM—!!
Pillars of lightning exploded upward.
"Heh! You think I came unprepared?!"
When the smoke cleared, Kaien stood unharmed.
"What?! That's impossible! No one takes a direct hit from my lightning field and walks away untouched!"
Kaien scratched his head.
"Ugh… I feel like I've had to explain my technique way too much today. But fine. I'm generous like that."
"Basically? You didn't hit me. Your lightning struck the infinite space between us."
He lifted his hand. "Here. Let me show you. Hold out your hand."
Laxus did. He wasn't scared. If anything, he was curious to see what this mysterious magic really was.
The moment his hand approached Kaien's—
He felt it.
A wall of resistance.
No matter how hard he pushed, he couldn't close the distance.
"What the hell…?"
"This is my Limitless. The closer you get to me, the slower your movement becomes. It's not stopped—it just approaches zero. When you fired that lightning? I applied a bit of pressure. It curved around me instead."
"You've got to be kidding me…"
Kaien smiled slyly. "Wanna hold hands? I won't mind."
"…No."
"Aww, don't be shy. I'm starting to feel embarrassed over here."
"You bastard…!"
Laxus growled—and threw a punch, lightning crackling across his fist.
Kaien leaned to the side, avoiding it by a hair's breadth.
BAM!
His own fist struck Laxus in the face.
"Grah!"
"Damn it!!"
Laxus countered, lashing out again.
But every time his fist came close, Kaien dodged—barely. And every time, Kaien's strikes landed with perfect precision.
THUD! BAM! CRACK!
Over and over.
Until—
"Enough!!"
Laxus jumped back, body flickering with electricity, putting distance between them. His eyes were bloodshot with rage.
Kaien looked down at his open palms.
"Huh? Done already? But I was just starting to enjoy our little bonding session."
"Shut up…" Laxus growled. "You're not as smug as you think. I've figured it out—your weakness."
"Oh?" Kaien grinned. "Do tell. Even I don't know it."
"That Limitless of yours—it's good, but not perfect. If it were, you wouldn't have to dodge my attacks."
Kaien nodded. "Sharp as ever, Laxus."
Indeed—his Limitless wasn't absolute. Powerful spells or rapid techniques, like Simple Domains, could break through. It just took time—fractions of a second. But that sliver was all Kaien needed to evade.
"And the stronger the magic, the faster it penetrates your defense!"
Laxus clenched his fists, golden lightning spiraling around him.
"You always ran your mouth about the old man's nagging, but for once I listened. Time to show you something I've been hiding."
Crackling lightning surged around his limbs. Scales shimmered faintly across his skin.
"You're a Dragon Slayer?" Kaien muttered.