Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.
October 15, x784.
Unlike every other fight thus far, Alfonzo and Laxus did not immediately start casting spells or charging forward once the signal was given. Instead, they both flared their magic power, using it to put pressure on the other.
To Laxus surprise, however, his magic power was immediately pushed back. Whenever something like this happened in the past, both he and Alfonzo would come out almost even. But this time, the contest was not even close.
'His magic power feels so heavy.' Laxus thought to himself with a frown. 'But it doesn't feel like he has a significantly higher amount than I do. What the hell is going on?'
The reason behind Laxus' feeling was simple. The density of Alfonzo's magic power had increased. During the time when the new guild hall was under construction, Alfonzo's magic power reserves did not increase in quantity because his body could not handle more since he was not training to strengthen it.
Instead, Alfonzo took it upon himself to raise its quality by compressing it.. Then, when he finally got the chance to start physical training again, he continued to do so.
"Although this is fun." Alfonzo said, breaking Laxus out of his thoughts. "I don't think anyone really wants to see us have a pissing contest. So, why don't we get it started, proper like?"
Immediately after he finished speaking, Alfonzo lowered his center of gravity and cast one of the first spells he ever learned.
"[Metal Magic: Spring Dash]." Alfonzo said quietly as a pair of springs manifested around his legs and feet.
As the recoil of the springs pushed Alfonzo forward, Laxus could not help but feel nostalgic.
'This is exactly how our first fight started, too.' Laxus thought to himself. 'This fight will not end the same way, though.'
A moment later, Alfonzo was in front of Laxus with his left arm reeled back to throw a punch. Halfway through the punching motion, however, an Eskrima stick made of electricity resistant metal appeared in his hand as he slightly adjusted his hand, turning it from a punch to a thrust.
Unsurprised by Alfonzo's move, Laxus calmly tilted his head to avoid Alfonzo's thrust. Then, he threw a short, right uppercut at Alfonzo's ribs. Reacting quickly, Alfonzo pulled his arm back and lowered his left elbow, blocking Laxus' punch before following up with a right straight.
Reacting just as quickly, Laxus deflected Alfonzo's punch upward by raising his left hand, pressing it against the underside of Alfonzo's wrist. Then, once both his and Alfonzo's arms were raised up high, Laxus formed his left hand into a fist and brought it down, aiming a hammer fist at the side of Alfonzo's neck.
Knowing that tilting his head would not be enough to dodge this attack, Alfonzo raised his right leg, kicking towards Laxus abdomen. And just as he expected, Laxus moved his right hand to block it. Then, as soon as his foot was stopped, Alfonzo put more force into his kick and pushed away from Laxus, avoiding the incoming hammer fist.
Though Alfonzo was not able to push himself back very far, with such brief prep time, he managed to gain some distance. In response, Laxus body turned into a bolt of lightning and sped past Alfonzo before reappearing behind him with his arms reeled back and ready to smash both his lightning covered fists into Alfonzo's back.
In response, Alfonzo used his [Metal Magic] to elongate the Eskrima stick he was still holding, turning it into a bow staff, before jamming its end into the ring, pushing himself above the incoming smash.
Alfonzo, now balancing upside down on his hands on the end of the new created metal staff, flipped his body forward. As a result, the end of the staff that was pressed against the ring whipped up towards Laxus, who was forced to side step to avoid the staff's upswing.
Then, as Alfonzo's feet touched the ring, he spun his body, whipping the end of the staff horizontally at Laxus' legs from the left. Instead of jumping to avoid the sweep, however, Laxus raised his left leg, covered it in [Lightning Magic], and smashed it down on top of the staff.
"[Lightning Magic: Discharge]." Laxus chanted as his foot smashed downward.
*Bang!* *Zap!*
In the next instant, Alfonzo's staff was forced down to the ring and bent under the force of Laxus stomp. On top of that, bolts of yellow lightning were expelled in all directions from the point of impact.
Instead of retreating like Masa had done in the first round of the tournament, Alfonzo released the staff, allowing it to dispell. Then, with his hands covered in sparking, purple electricity, Alfonzo gathered all the lightning that would have struck him in his hands.
"[Electromagnetism Magic: Spark Cannon]." Alfonzo chanted as all the yellow lightning he had gathered was converted in to purple electricity.
Then, from close range, Alfonzo fired an orb of purple electricity at Laxus, who smugly crossed his arms in response.
*Zap!*
*Gasp!*
Seeing Laxus engulfed in purple electricity without even attempting to defend, nearly every spectator gasped in surprise. A moment later, however, all those surprised expressions turned into ones filled with shock and disbelief as with the sound of someone drinking through a straw, Laxus was once again visible with no signs of damage while all the sparking, purple electricity was sucked into his mouth.
"Now, what does that pink-haired brat say when he does this?" Laxus asked, a somewhat playful grin making its way onto his face. "I'm all fired up."
"Hey! Don't steal my line!" Natsu shouted from the bleachers.
Ignoring Natsu's shout, Laxus took a deep breath. Then, with familiar gesture, he brought his hands up to his mouth and formed them into a trumpet-like shape.
"[Lightning Dragon's Roar]." Laxus chanted, blowing a concentrated beam of yellow lightning from between his hands towards Alfonzo.
Once again, the crowd was shocked. Although they suspected that Laxus might be a Dragon Slayer like Natsu and Gajeel after seeing him devour Alfonzo's electricity, the use of a Dragon Slayer's signature spell confirmed it.
Meanwhile, Alfonzo did his best to take control of the [Lightning Dragon's Roar] before it reached him. However, just like when he fought Gajeel at Phantom Lord's guild hall, he could not immediately take control of it. So, with his hands still covered in his own electricity, he raised them to defend and was pushed back across the ring due to the force.
Once Alfonzo had been pushed back by a certain distance, he noticed that similar to when he fought Gajeel, he could wrestle away control of Laxus [Dragon Slayer Magic]. So, instead of allowing the spell to push him back any further, as he was getting dangerously close to the edge of the ring, he swept his hands around, redirecting the beam of lightning back towards Laxus.
In response, Laxus stopped his spell before transforming into a bolt of lightning to avoid his returned spell.
Noticing that Laxus had dodged the [Lightning Dragon's Roar],Alfonzo took control of it once again and directed it up into the sky where it would eventually dissipate harmlessly.
Meanwhile, Laxus reappeared on the same spot where he disappeared from in his lighting form, making eye contact with Alfonzo. Though, he did not make another move immediately.
"A Dragon Slayer, huh?" Alfonzo asked with some interest.
"Yeah, I have my dear old dad to thank for that." Laxus said, a bit of anger bubbling to the surface as he spoke. "Apparently, having a dragon lacrima implanted into your body will do that to you."
"Yeah, God Serena apparently has eight of them in his body." Alfonzo replied.
"I know, that's probably where he got the idea in the first place. Either way, now I don't have to worry about that electricity of yours."
With that said, Laxus once again transformed into lightning, reappearing in front of Alfonzo less than a second later with is right fist reeled back.
"[Lightning Dragon's Iron Fist]." Laxus chanted as he threw his fist forward.
With lightning being generated around his fist, it was quickly absorbed, making it much stronger and increasing the blunt force.
Reacting quickly, Alfonzo deflected Laxus punch with his gauntleted hand before throwing a punch of his own at Laxus left jaw. Tilting his head back and narrowly avoiding the punch, Laxus felt Alfonzo's foot connect with his left calf. However, unlike what Alfonzo' expected, Laxus balance was not disturbed in the slightest.
In return, Laxus swept his left leg outward, dragging Alfonzo's right leg along with it and throwing off his center of gravity. Then, he performed a second [Lightning Dragon's Iron Fist] with his left hand, landing a hook to Alfonzo's abdomen.
"Gahh!" Alfonzo grunted as the punch landed and he was forced to pitch forward.
Before Laxus could capitalize on the opening, however, Alfonzo quickly straightened up again, the back of his head colliding with Laxus chin. As a result, both fighters were slightly disoriented by the collision.
Still, as Alfonzo was expecting the impact, he was the first to recover. Then, with his hands coated in red microwaves, he threw a barrage of punches at Laxus mid-section.
"[Electromagnetism Magic: Blood Boiling Barrage]." Alfonzo chanted as his arms turned into a blur while the sound of metal striking flesh rang out several times in quick succession.
Before the number of punches landed could reach double digits, Laxus took on his lightning form once again. As a result, Alfonzo's fists passed through him.
Taking a step back, Laxus reeled his fist back. Then, just as he returned to his flesh and blood form, with his overcoat and shirt burned away by the microwaves and several burns on his abdomen, he threw his fist forward with lightning crackling around it.
One thing that Laxus had learned over the years was that Although [Electromagnetism magic] could defend Alfonzo from lightning and other electricity-based attacks, he had to be able to defend against it for that to work. Meaning, he had to stop it with his own electricity. So, Laxus figured that he would have to attack fast enough that Alfonzo could not react.
"[Lightning Dragon Slayer's Breakdown Fist]." Laxus chanted as his arm was fully extended.
In the next instant, the lightning gathered around Laxus' fist flowed forward, forming a large recreation of his fist before slamming into Alfonzo.
Just as he expected, Laxus' lightning fist slammed into Alfonzo before he could raise a defense, as he was still recovering from the punch barrage. As a result, Alfonzo was thrown backward before slamming into the ring and rolling a bit further before he was able to stop himself by digging his fingers into it.
A moment later, Laxus appeared standing over Alfonzo, who was laying on his back, with his arms raised over his head, his hands locked together, and lightning sparking around his joined hands.
"[Lightning Dragon's Jaw]." Laxus chanted as he swung his arms down.
In response, Alfonzo drew his legs up to his chest. Then, he explosively kicked upward at Laxus' chest while simultaneously creating a pair of springs around his legs.
"[Metal Magic: Catapult Kick]." Alfonzo chanted quietly as his feet landed on Laxus' chest, sending the older wizard flying when the springs uncoiled and stopping his spell in the process.
*Bang!*
Before Laxus could fly too far, however, Alfonzo used his [Metal Magic] to materialize a chunk of adamantine behind Laxus, that he crashed into with great force.
*Cough*" Laxus spat out a mouthful of blood on impact.
Then, before Laxus could fall away from the block of adamantine, the metal started to squirm before restraints were formed around his wrists and ankles. At the same time, anti-magic sigils were being etched into the restraints.
Laxus, knowing Alfonzo's tricks after fighting with him for so long, transformed into lightning quickly, slipping out of the restraints and flashing behind Alfonzo, who had just climbed to his feat once again.
Raising his arms in front of him, Laxus crated a ball of lightning between his palms that elongated into the shape of a Chinese halberd.
"[Lightning Dragon's Heavenward Halberd]." Laxus chanted as he fired the spell at close range.
Having been tracking Laxus with his [Magic Power Detection], Alfonzo was able to turn around fast enough to raise a hand coursing with his purple electricity, blocking the incoming spell. As a result, he was once again pushed back, his feet sliding across the surface of the ring.
Once again, after getting a certain distance from Laxus, Alfonzo was able to wrangle control of his spell away from him. Then, with the halberd taking on a purple hue, Alfonzo jammed it into the ring and slowed his momentum.
Meanwhile, as Alfonzo was forced away, Laxus raised his arms to the sky and began chanting a much longer spell.
"Resounding through the air, the roar of thunder, plunge from the heavens and reap destruction! [Roaring Bolt]." Laxus chant finished just as Alfonzo regained his footing.
During Laxus chant, the clear skies over Magnolia were covered with dark clouds. Then, a large lightning bolt fell, aimed straight at the top of Alfonzo's head.
In response, Alfonzo, with the [Heavenward Halberd] still in his grasp, flourished his weapon, cutting the descending lightning bolt in half while absorbing the rest into the halberd, causing it to glow brightly.
"Seriously?" Laxus muttered in disbelief. "He just cut a bolt of lightning?"
Not just Laxus, but every spectator in the venue was dumbfounded by Alfonzo's feat. What none of them knew, however, was the fact that as soon as Alfonzo felt the gathering electricity in the sky, he quietly, barely a whisper, chanted his [Lightning Enhancement] spell. ON top of that, he over charged it, allowing his thoughts and body to keep up with the speed of lightning.
'Fuck!' Alfonzo exclaimed internally. 'I'm gonna be sore for weeks after pushing my body this far. And this fucking headache. MY head feels like it's gonna fucking explode.'
Disregarding the pain for now, something he knew would come back to bite him later, Alfonzo charged forward, lightning halberd in hand. Then, when he was in range, he swung the blunt side at Laxus, aiming for the left side of his rib cage.
In response, Laxus looked at Alfonzo with disappointment. After displaying the fact that he was a Dragon Slayer, Alfonzo should have known that a weapon made of lightning, no matter how condensed or powerful the lightning, would not be able to harm him.
Waiting for the halberd to strike him harmlessly, Laxus raised his right fist above his head, lighting arching off it. Before he could bring it down and cast the spell he was preparing, however, he felt a sharp pain in his ribs.
*Crack!*
"Gahh!" Laxus grunted as the pain accompanying his cracked ribs disrupted his spell casting.
Due to the surprisingly solid impact, Laxus also lurched forward, only for Alfonzo to thrust the pointy end of the halberd into his chest and send him flying into the air.
To Laxus surprise, even though he was stabbed with the sharp end of the halberd, it felt like he was hit by a blunt object. Unfortunately, he did not have much time to contemplate the mixed signals his brain was giving him.
"[Electromagnetism Magic: Flash Point]." Alfonzo chanted as a pair of electrically charged metal rails, pointed towards Laxus appeared on either side of him.
A moment later, Alfonzo was sent flying in Laxus direction at five times the speed of sound. Then, as he passed by, he swung the lightning halberd in his hands , sending Laxus flying away again. Then, before he could slow down, Alfonzo created another set of rails that fired him in Laxus direction again.
This process continued for a dozen more times. And on the last pass, Alfonzo smashed the halberd downward, sending Laxus crashing towards the ring.
*Boom!*
On impact, the ring that was enchanted with Fried's [Word Magic] was completely destroyed while Laxus was covered from sight by a dust cloud that rose into the air.
Alfonzo, on the other hand, slowly lowered himself towards the dust cloud. Then, when he was close enough, he swung the lightning halberd, the wind pressure dispersing the cloud.
When the dust was no longer blocking anyone's vision, the first thing everyone looked for was Laxus. And when they saw his condition, they were all shocked.
Laxus, covered in cuts, blood, and bruises, was struggling with all his might, at the bottom of a crater, to get back to his feet. Unfortunately, he was completely incapable of raising himself off his hands and knees. Mostly due to the number of broken bones he received from Alfonzo's last chain of attacks.
A moment later, Alfonzo landed on one of the larger pieces of the ring that still remained, unsure if landing on the ground would result in him losing due to a ring out. At the same time, Laxus raised his head with a mixture of confusion and frustration in his expression.
"How?" Laxus wheezed out. "*Cough*"
Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Laxus collapsed back to the bottom of the crater, as if that one word question used up the last of his strength. Though, his gaze never left Alfonzo.
"Laxus is unable to continue." Makarov declared as soon as Laxus fell once again. "The winner of the round is Alfonzo Marcus. And with a score of two to one, the winner of the round and the first ever champion of the Battle of Fairy Tail Tournament is.. Team Steel Threads!"
It took a moment for the crowd to process Makarov's declaration. But when they did, they exploded in loud cheering. Meanwhile, Alfonzo, after letting the tension leave his body, lost balance, almost falling forward as he did so. At the last moment, however, he stabbed the halberd into the piece of the ring that he was standing on, stabilizing himself.
Then, once he was no longer concerned that he would tumble forward, Alfonzo stopped supplying his magic power to the lightning halberd, its glow dimming quickly.
Eventually, it was revealed that underneath the brightly shining lightning, Alfonzo held a metal rod formed from a highly lightning resistant metal. Though, it was clear that the amount of lightning flowing around the rod was more than the metal could handle as there were many distortions in the metal once it was revealed.
"Sneaky son… of a… bitch…" Laxus muttered as he lost consciousness.