Chapter 185: The Strongest Mage vs True Fire Dragon Slayer Magic
~Erza S. POV~
Observing the scene before me I see Silva facing off against Natsu testing himself in a sparring match for the first time seeing them fight.
Yet how Silva carried himself held a sense of confidence he never had before. I know that despite his real body being with us his conciseness was with a Replica of his in case something happened to him.
Despite this, he carried a new sense of confidence making me surprised to see this side of himself.
Standing in front of the guild Silva stretches his body as Natsu prepares himself to express a grin on his face, "You sure got confident over the years Silva. But you're still the same as us in terms of strength!"
Natsu's words do have truth to them.
Yet Alzack interjected shrugging his shoulders and expressing a smile on his face causing the rest of the key members to listen to his words, "That may be true. However, Silva here fought the same as he always has at the same level. Yet he surpassed that limit."
Listening to his words Mira interjected confused by Alzack words pondering out loud, "In that case doesn't that mean he didn't get stronger really?"
Shaking at Mira's claim Jellal interjected leaning behind the wall explaining that wasn't the case for our resident trickster, "In most cases, you would be correct. And Silva knew that so he trained on his skills polishing them perfection and developing in ways we couldn't see. While he didn't grow stronger his experience grew. As such created more skills for him to polish."
Agreeing with Jellal's words Kagura growled clenching her sword tightly and agreeing with his claims teeth grinding, "More like a fucking cheat with his skills. It merely makes my blood boil at the man…"
Simon standing next to her sighed as he laughed lightly at his little sister's meltdown, "Hahaha… I apologize for her words, everyone. Kagura is still a bit salty of their last encounter against swords and his skill."
At this, Lucy chimes in intrigued as did everyone else in a curious tone, "Really? How did it go?"
Kagura merely growled at Lucy clenching her sword and replying a few words in fear, "Traumatic… he beat me with a fucking butterknife in our spars… A. Butter. Knife. My pride as a swordswoman shaken and rattled along with his bullshit no touch power…"
We were confused about what she meant by that. But we didn't get our answer Silva jumped up and down getting the rhythm getting our attention immediately off his body and pushing his arm forward motioning Natsu to come at him in a confident tone, "In that case, Natsu come get me then to find out?"
*Brrr*
Igniting Natsu's spirit he didn't hesitate and rushed forward towards Silva the gleeful expression on his face commencing the attack, "Careful what you wish for! <Fire Dragon's Iron Fist>!"
Igniting his fist Natsu rushed forward yet Silva remained calm bringing out a card and calling out the name, "Foolish Natsu it's time to d-d-d-d-duel!! You activated my Trap Card Natsu! <AOE: Magical Hats>!"
*Poof*
*Poof*
*Poof*
*Poof*
Suddenly 4 large blue hats with question marks written all over them stumping Natsu attacking one out of confusion, "The heck?!"
Slamming one it poofed out as Max exclaimed in a chipper tone, "He might've been stuck the same like you guys but he learned more tricks in his arsenal since then."
*PEW*
"Ahhh!!"
Just as soon as Natsu destroyed one of the Magical Hats he was sent flying by an animal skeleton recognizing it as his gaster blaster he used surprising Natsu.
Natsu soon gets alerted exclaiming in a surprise gathering a large amount of Magic Power in himself roaring at his targets, "<Fire Dragon's Roar>!!"
*BRRR*
The attack aimed at all 3 hats but then they all shuffled between each other as another card was sent to the sky animating it into life, "Trap Card <AOE: Magical Arm Shield>!!"
*Kreee*
Summoning forth a shield that sprang out a cartoon-like spring glove appeared taking Natsu Fire Dragon Roar surprising him greatly returned to sender, "Oi! I call bs – ahhh!!!"
My eyes widened surprised seeing Natsu's attack return as Silva came out from the hats smirking as he responded to Natsu in confidence, "Come on Natsu? You got anything better than that?"
Managing to get out of his attacks Natsu regained his fiery spirit returning the favor rushing forward and continuing his attack, "Heck yeah, I do! How about you take this on for size!! <Crimson Lotus: Fire Dragon's Fist>!!"
*BRR*
*BRR*
*BRR*
Punching forward going all out my eyes cast over to Silva placing his palm open – what!
Soon what happened left all of us stumped including the rest of our friends we're witnessing much to Natsu's frustration trying to punch him with all of his might only from our perspective does not connect.
"What?!"
"Natsu clearly hitting him so why can't we see the damage?"
"Is he healing faster than what Natsu can damage?"
"No, it's not connecting."
"But how is he doing it?"
"I doubt it's because he can predict them, I mean look!"
"Yeah, Natsu wildly hitting at random but then…"
Natsu soon began to pant frustrated and annoyed he couldn't land a hit on Silva much to his bitterness expressed, "What the hell man!! Why can't I hit you!"
Listening to his words Silva playfully replied to a smug expression on his face, "Hmm, simply said you didn't hit me."
*BRRR*
Natsu simply got annoyed as he began to charge straight in attacking him with another of his advanced spells, "That's a load of BS!! Here let me show you! <Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade>!!!"
*VOOOOM*
Instantly Natsu began to ignite his arms and generate long torrents of flames from them, which moved to hit the enemy in a spiraling formation. Each connecting strike generates a powerful, burning explosion!
*BOOOM*
*BOOOM*
*BOOOM*
Witnessing the sheer power Natsu's producing is surprising but…
*Shiii*
His fist charged into Silva with the intent to crush him as he explained to the incoming danger in a calm tone, "I'll explain it to you. What you touched was the <Infinity > that was between you and me."
Placing his hand forward what seems like catching Natsu's attack his eyes widen in shock as his attack never made contact everyone can see that no matter what Natsu did he couldn't touch Silva.
The infinity he spoke… It is baffling witnessing it seeing Natsu trying his might to push forward only for us to see he can't ever reach him.
He can't touch him…!
It stops right before his able to.
This is infinity…?
How much has Silva grown to create this – wait…
I don't sense any Magic used then what kind of spell or skill is he conducting to make it even possible?
Silva on the other hand continued explaining seeing that he was rather overconfident against Natsu explaining, "Rather than stopping, it just gets slower the closer you get to me. And? What should we do? For me, I can just grab your fist, and then…"
However, what happened next pretty much shocked us further what Natsu did next in a happy tone, "In that case how about this just for you old buddy! <True Fire Dragon Mode>!!"
This time however Silva was shocked and confused by what Natsu said, "The True Fire – ack!"
*BAM*
I couldn't help but laugh at the scene seeing Natsu break Silva's expectations as genuine shock written over his face surprised, "Okay how the living fuck you managed to hit me with <Infinity > fucking on!!! I trained 5 years to perfect then suddenly you put a deux macchia on me!!! Do you have hit me specifically pass on me or something?!"
Natsu merely grinned eagerly managing to land a hit on Silva jumping up and down happily putting him in his place, "Hahaha! Finally managed to clobber you! Man, it felt good to see you squirm man!! But hey I learned how to do this after seeing you do it with your Magic Circles and I thought why not?"
At this Silva seemed to have frozen considering his words till his eyes widened at Natsu's claims in an understanding of his words, "Oi! You don't mean you managed to replicate my Mana Method when I used my Glyphs then did you…!!"
Natsu had a shit-eating grin flexing his muscles proving his point with his blue fire in a confident tone, "Hahaha!! Heck yeah, I did! When you learned your Ethernano sphere trying to have a secret weapon prepping for the Trials I trained my trump card to surprise you! Man did it feel good to do that to you…"
Although now hearing it…
We all had the same thoughts about what was different compared then when Natsu attacked Silva when he used his <True Fire Dragon Mode> that managed to land hits while ordinary attacks didn't before.
This left us stumped on how Natsu managed to pull it off.
Before we could question the topic Natsu rushed in continuing the fight eagerly seeing in this state he could hit Silva gleefully, "Let's go then!! Now that I can hit you then –"
*Shiii*
Instantly Silva released an attack of his own unleashing a small red ball of energy instantly aimed at Natsu, "<AOE Cursed Technique Reversal: Red>."
*WOOOSH*
"AHHHH!"
Natsu was instantly pushed back as the red ball repelled him out of bounds knocked out losing his Magic Power Silva sighed rubbing his hair at the scene, "Seriously man? How is it that you of all people manage to harm me by complete accident? That's like 3 times by now. If I had a nickel each time Natsu surprised me by harm I would have 3 times. Which isn't a lot but is strange it happened thrice."
Still though witnessing the sparring match it seems like Silva managed to surpass us in skills like the others say but some are still shocked how Natsu managed to hit him listening to the others muttering in shock seeing something strange from Jellal, Ultear, Ur, Kagura, and Lyon.
"How…?!"
"Seriously is Salamander just that much of a monster?!!"
"His fire managed to hit but my ice couldn't!"
"Tch. I really wish to slash him…"
"Oh? When my <Arc of Time> doesn't hit him but fire does? How's that fair!"
It seems like Silva seemed to be quite infamous with his untouchable <Infinity > he calls his move.
Essentially the biggest cheat there is and yet…
Hahaha… It still seems like Silva needs to learn a few more things despite the 7-year time gap but… I'm glad to see this side of him.
When the fight was over, Macao voiced over something that caught our attention in a cheerful tone, "Seeing this are you going to participate in this year's Grand Magic games Silva? Now they are all here."
Grand Magic Games?
Sounds like the fun just seems to get better hearing of the news. And one that Silva himself refused till we all arrived back home.
I couldn't help but smile at the news of the new adventure in our lives.