The jungle air was thick, heavy with ethernano, and buzzing with tension. In the wide clearing, four figures stood facing each other, the ground still scarred from their previous battles.
On one side, Lucky and Erza.
Erza's armor gleamed like molten steel in the filtered sunlight, her sword steady at her side. Lucky, as usual, looked far too relaxed for the situation, sipping calmly from a glass of juice he had conjured from nowhere.
(AN: The reason that Lucky is drinking juice or water a Lot was because of his Body temperature)
On the other hand, Cana and Laxus. Cana had her deck fanned between her fingers, a sharp smirk tugging at her lips despite the faint scorch marks on her clothes from earlier. Beside her, Laxus radiated Magiv, arcs of lightning flickering lazily over his shoulders, his golden eyes locked on Lucky like a predator sighting prey.
Between the two teams, the ground seemed to hum, as if Tenrou Island itself was holding its breath.
Then, shimmering above them, Makarov's glowing projection appeared once again. His staff was planted firmly into the earth, and though he was just a projection, his presence pressed down on the arena like a mountain.
"Fairy Tail!" his voice thundered, echoing across both the jungle and the distant guild hall, where the same image was projected in front of the packed guild members. "The next battle begins here, between the victors of the last round!"
The guild hall in Magnolia erupted instantly. Cheers, bets, and drunken hollers shook the rafters as guildmates crowded around the glowing projections. Lucky's clones had already set up another chalkboard, scrawling in big, bold letters:
MATCH 2: LUCKY & ERZA vs. LAXUS & CANA
The betting categories underneath included things like:
Who hits the dirt first?
How long will the fight last?
Does Lucky spill his juice?
Clone #7 rang a bell, shouting, "Place your bets, losers! Odds for Boss never spilling juice are 1-to-100, don't even bother!"
Back in the clearing, Makarov's projection raised a hand, his tone sharp. "This battle will decide which of you moves forward. The trials of Tenrou do not wait for the hesitant. Brats, give it your all and make me proud."
Erza stepped forward without hesitation, her blade glinting. Her voice was steady, commanding. "I will face Cana first."
Cana's smirk widened. She flicked a card into the air, catching it between her knuckles like a seasoned gambler. "Fine by me, Erza, this time I will not lose. Let's see if your armor can keep up with my magic."
Behind them, Laxus shoved his hands into his pockets, his expression unreadable, though his lips curled faintly into a smirk. Lucky simply tilted his head, sipping his juice. Neither moved to intervene.
The projection of Makarov lifted his staff higher, light rippling outward as runes sealed the battlefield. His voice carried like thunder.
"Begin!"
The guild hall back in Magnolia roared like a stadium as the duel started. Bets were placed, mugs clinked, and Lucky's clones waved banners with exaggerated enthusiasm.
But in the jungle clearing, the mood was different.
The first clash was about to begin.
————————————————————
The moment Makarov's projection shouted "Begin!", Erza surged forward. Steel shimmered around her body, her scarlet armor morphing into her iconic Heaven's Wheel Armor.
Swords swirled into existence, orbiting her like a storm of blades. With a sweep of her hand, the blades shot forward, a rain of steel filling the clearing.
Cana laughed, not a trace of fear on her face. She flicked her wrist, sending a glowing card spinning into the air. "Card Magic: Random Throwing!"
The single card is split into dozens, each glowing with a different color. They burst like fireworks mid-air, colliding with Erza's storm of blades. Sparks and explosions rattled the trees, leaves raining down like confetti.
From Magnolia, the guild hall erupted with cheers.
"She countered Erza's attack?!" someone shouted.
"She's Gildart's daughter, what did you expect?!" another replied.
"Bet on Cana! Ten jewels, she lasts longer than anyone else so far!"
Erza didn't hesitate. She re-quipped mid-dash, her armor glowing and shifting into Black Wing Armor. Her speed skyrocketed, her sword gleaming with added dark power as she closed in on Cana.
"Fast....!" Cana's eyes widened, but her smirk didn't fade. She snapped two cards into her hand, one glowing blue, the other green. "Card Combo: Aqua Edge + Gale Shot!"
Water and wind erupted together, spinning into a razor-sharp cyclone that surged straight toward Erza.
The ground split as the cyclone tore through it, grass bending violently.
Erza leaped into the air, wings from her Black Wing Armor spreading wide. With a downward slash, she cut clean through the cyclone, scattering water and wind into harmless spray.
Cana skidded back, her eyes shaking. "This is unfair. She's cutting through everything I throw…"
"Of course," Erza said, landing with a crash that shook the ground. Her sword pointed straight at Cana. "I am not going to lose this Fight."
————————————————————
The guild hall howled."ERZA! ERZA! ERZA!"
"Cana's done for, no way she breaks through that!"
Lucky's clones weren't buying it. Clone #3 raised a chalkboard reading: "50/50 Odds: Erza crushes Cana vs. Cana cheats Erza somehow."
————————————————————
Back in the clearing, Cana was calm despite the sweat on her forehead. She flicked another card into the air, her magic circle glowing brighter this time. "Don't count me out yet. This deck's got more than fireworks!"
A glowing purple card slammed into the ground at her feet. From it burst chains of raw energy, wrapping toward Erza like serpents.
Erza re-quipped again, armor shifting into Adamantine Armor. Her twin shields slammed down, shattering the chains as she marched forward like an unstoppable juggernaut.
Cana's smirk faltered. She threw another card, explosions ripped the ground, fire surged upward, and smoke blanketing the arena.
For a moment, the guild hall watching leaned forward. "Did she get her?"
The smoke cleared.
Erza stood there, shields glowing, not a single scratch visible. She didn't even look winded.
Cana gritted her teeth. "Tch…"
Erza's voice cut as sharply as her blade. "You fought well, Cana. But this is the end."
Her armor shifted again, this time into what seemed to be a smaller and similar type to the future Purgatory Armor, black and crimson steel that pulsed with overwhelming power. The guild members watching gasped.
"She's serious!"
"Oh crap, Erza is going for one shot kill!"
Erza raised her blade, magic swelling like a storm around her. "Prepare yourself!"
Cana's lips twitched because this seemed like overkill. For a split second, doubt flickered in her eyes. Her hands trembled as she finally came to a decision.
And then her eyes sharpened. The confidence returned, smaller this time, but far more dangerous.
"Guess I don't have a choice, Sorry Dad can't keep the promise," Cana muttered. She raised her glowing hands, and her magic surged wilder, rawer, heavier than anything she'd used so far.
The air itself trembled.
The magic seemed to change around her hand, and her magic shifted, not smooth and flashy like before, but crushing. The ground cracked under her feet. Trees splintered nearby, their trunks warping as if some invisible pressure was grinding them apart.
Back in Magnolia, the guild hall went silent.
"...What is that?" someone whispered.
Makarov's projection flinched, eyes widening. "That magic… no, it can't be... THIS IDIOT!!!"
Lucky's usually calm expression flickered for just a moment, his juice trembling slightly in his grip. Even Laxus removed the smirk and was looking with shock to the point he couldn't control his magic, causing lightning to spark unconsciously across his shoulders.
"Impossible," Laxus muttered. "That's...."
Erza froze mid-step, her instincts screaming. The aura pressing down on her wasn't card magic anymore. It was raw, destructive force.
Cana's voice rang out, shaking, which is clear casting that this magic has caused a spell on her body.
"Crush Magic."
The guild hall exploded.
"NO WAY!"
"That's GILDARTS' magic!"
"WHAT THE HELL IS CANA DOING WITH IT?!"
Makarov's eyes narrowed, troubled, but he couldn't hide the flicker of pride in them either. "So… Gildarts taught even so, even if only a weakened version…" Makarov is staring at Cana and hoping she doesn't become the second Gildarts
(AN: Yes, I gave her crush Magic reason is it will make more sense of her having it young than her having it when she is old, and also this makes up for Cana's weakness of being a versatile mage, putting no power. And it is a lower version of full crush magic because, at the end of the day, Cana's Physical body is not strong enough to use the full version. After all, I assume Gildarts awakened his magic, which means his body is more attuned to it than anyone else who decides to learn it.
Cana raised her hand, and the very air in front of her warped, space itself trembling. She gritted her teeth, sweat pouring down her face. "Let's see your armor survive this, Erza!"
Erza braced, her Purgatory Armor gleaming. Their magic clashed sword against raw destruction.
The ground split. The air cracked. The clearing quaked as if it was about to tear apart.
The guild hall was dead silent now, every mage holding their breath.
For a long, terrifying moment, no one could tell who would win.
Then the blast subsided.
Erza stood panting, armor shattered in places, her sword cracked but still in her hand. Across from her, Cana collapsed to her knees, her deck scattered, her body trembling from the strain.
Neither could move.
Makarov's projection finally broke the silence. His voice was heavy, but proud. "The duel… let's call it a draw."
Gasps echoed across the guild hall. Half the guild erupted in cheers for Cana's incredible reveal. The other half shouted Erza's name like a war cry.
Lucky set his juice down slowly, his expression unreadable, though the faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
He was Happy that Cana mastered advanced magic, like Crush magic, which is good to help her in terms of destructive power.
Laxus chuckled lowly, sparks flickering across his shoulders. "Didn't think she had that in her." His gaze shifted to Lucky. "Guess it's our turn, huh?"
Lucky finally met his eyes. Calm. Steady.
'Let me avenge my last defeat'
And he smiled.
For some reason, that smile made Laxus shudder.
————————————————————
The jungle clearing was dead silent. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath as Cana and Erza were moved to the side using portals to a safe place, as their duel ended in a shocking draw.
All eyes turned to the center of the arena.
On one side stood Laxus Dreyar, sparks of lightning flickering faintly around his shoulders, golden eyes burning with pride. His sheer confidence seemed to confirm that he had already become an S-class ..
On the other stood Lucky, calm as ever, but his eyes also radiated confidence because the current him wasn't the weak him where Laxus could beat him a second now, he was different.
The guild hall in Magnolia was silent. No bets. No laughter. Just anticipation.
"...This is it," someone whispered.
Even Makarov's projection looked heavier than usual, his staff tapping once against the earth. "The true test begins now."
Laxus smirked, stepping forward, sparks flaring brighter around his fists. "Finally. A real fight. Don't think you'll get away with your cheap tricks this time, Lucky. This will End Like last time... Quickly."
Lucky tilted his head, setting his juice down on his portable storage. His eyes locked on Laxus. Calm. Too calm.
Then he smiled.
A Very Kind Smile.
That simple smile made something deep in Laxus's gut twist. A flicker of unease, he quickly crushed with pride.
"Trying to scare me with a grin? Tch. You're not Gildarts or the old man." Lightning flared louder across his arms, the ground blackening beneath his boots.
Lucky raised his hand, his voice calm but carrying across the clearing.
"InstantScript: [No Lightning Within The Arena 50% of Full Power]."
The words burned into the air in glowing script before vanishing.
The effect was immediate.
Laxus's sparks flickered then died. His eyes widened, the familiar surge of his magic vanishing like a candle snuffed out.
"What…?" He clenched his fists, trying to summon lightning again. Nothing. Not even a spark.
The guild hall exploded."WHAT DID HE JUST DO?!"
"NO WAY HE SEALED LAXUS'S MAGIC?!"
"That's impossible!"
Even Makarov's projecting eyes narrowed sharply. "So… that's his power now…"
Lucky cracked his knuckles, stepping forward. "Rule one of my magic: if I say it, it's real." His smirk widened. "And I just said no lightning."
Laxus's teeth ground together, fury flashing in his golden eyes. "This is… unfair!"
Lucky's laugh cut across the battlefield. "Unfair? What you say might be true? But since I am feeling generous, let me explain it so I make it fair. I only said No Lightning in the Arena, you can use your other magic, I'm not stopping you ."
(AN: In this chapter, I wanted to showcase Lucky Magic here when he said 50% of max power, which means 50% his max magic power, which means to cancel the effect. There are two ways, one is to crush the word manfisted magic that is floating in the air, the other is to consume the magic effect, like if he said no lightning, then use more attempts to use lightning to consume the mana within the magic.)
Laxus, with Gritted teeth, "YOU...."
Lucky "╮(´･௰･`)╭"
The guild back home was roaring in disbelief, half screaming for Laxus (They Bet for Laxus), half chanting Lucky's name.
Laxus growled, dropping into a stance. His muscles rippled, raw physical strength still terrifying even without lightning, and he can still enhance his physical body with Magic. "Fine. If I can't fry you, I'll break you with my fists!"
Lucky's smirk didn't fade. With a snap of his fingers, portals rippled open around him, and one by one, his clones stepped out, surrounding the clearing.
Ten… twenty… thirty… until the entire battlefield swarmed with copies, each smirking the same calm smirk.
At this exact moment, Laxus felt the same feeling as Someone else in another world. (Mizuki from Naruto, for those who don't know)
They cracked their knuckles in unison.
"Round one," Lucky said, voice low, "gang up on him."
"Aye"
"Let's do this."
The guild hall lost its collective mind."WHAT KIND OF RULES ARE THESE?!"
"HE'S TURNING THIS INTO A BRAWL!"
"Unfair! Unfair! I want to change my Bet"
"Too Late!" one of Lucky's clones managing the bets yelled, ringing a bell.
For the first time in years, Laxus felt something alien crawling up his spine. Not fear, he'd never admit that. But unease.
He'd thought this would be a clash of titans, two proud warriors trading blows for 3000 rounds. Instead, Lucky had set the rules. And he wasn't playing fair.
The clones moved as one.
A tidal wave of fists, kicks, portals, and instant scripts surged toward Laxus. He braced, slamming his fists into the ground to create shockwaves, swatting clones left and right. But for every one he knocked away, three more swarmed him, laughing, taunting, overwhelming him with sheer numbers.
Lucky himself didn't even join in, yet he stood back, sipping his juice, sitting down on a foldable chair, and watching his clones dismantle the Thunder Dragon Slayer.
The guild in Magnolia had gone quiet. Completely silent.
No one knew what to say.
This wasn't a clash of equals.
This was Lucky turning Laxus into a spectacle.
And deep down, every Fairy Tail member watching realized it. All their Money for rent is gone.
————————————————————
The instant Lucky gave the order, the clearing turned into a warzone.
Dozens of clones surged forward, each wearing the same infuriating smirk, each cracking their knuckles like street thugs about to mug someone.
Laxus braced, fists up, his body still radiating raw physical power even without his lightning. "COME ON, THEN!" he roared, slamming his fist into the first clone that charged.
BAM!
The clone exploded into smoke.
(AN: Too many author notes, but let me explain for people who have doubts. Even young Laxus' Body is not weak; it is stronger than the Currunt Lucky, and he is hitting clones after all. Dragon Slayer Magic is a comprehensive magic; if you don't include turning into another species and having motion sickness, it is almost a perfect magic. After all, this is a magic made to slay dragons.
For a heartbeat, Laxus grinned until three more clones vaulted over his shoulders, one trying to headlock him, another aiming a kick at his ribs, and the last scribbling something mid-air.
"InstantScript: [Super Slippery Boots]!" the writing clone shouted, glowing letters zipping under Laxus's feet.
"Wha...?!"
Laxus's boot caught the glowing rune, and he faceplanted into the dirt with a thunderous THUD.
The guild hall projection went wild."HE TRIPPED HIM!"
"BWAHAHAHA!"
"Who actually falls like that in a fight?!"
Laxus snarled, slamming his fists into the ground. A shockwave blasted the closest clones into smoke, but more poured in, swarming like ants.
One clone leaped onto his back, trying to choke him. Another spoke "HEAVY Rock" mid-air, making Laxus's body sink into the dirt like anchors.
"GET OFF ME!" Laxus roared, ripping the choking clone off and hurling him into a tree. The poor copy exploded on impact, but before he could breathe, three portals opened, clones diving out with flying kicks.
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
"ARGHHHH!" Laxus staggered back, throwing wild punches. He smashed through one clone's jaw, ducked under another, and hurled a third into the ground hard enough to leave a crater.
For a moment, it looked like he was holding his ground.
But then Lucky's calm voice cut through the chaos.
"Clones #7, #12, #19... formation 'Dogpile.'"
The three charged in unison. One slid low, tackling Laxus's legs. Another vaulted high, wrapping arms around his neck. The last launched himself like a missile into Laxus's chest.
The mighty Thunder Dragon Slayer toppled backward under the weight of three smirking Luckys.
"DOGPILE!" the clones shouted in unison.
More clones leaped in, piling on, shouting like children at recess. Within seconds, Laxus was buried under a writhing, laughing mountain of clones.
From Magnolia, the guild was howling."IS THIS A FIGHT OR KINDERGARTEN?!"
"LAXUS IS GETTING SMOTHERED!"
"Even though this is the first time seeing it, I am sure that this is the funniest S-Class trial EVER!"
Even Makarov's projection pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why is this my guild…" he muttered.
With a deafening roar, Laxus burst out of the pile, muscles bulging, clones flying in every direction. His chest heaved, sweat glistening. His golden eyes blazed.
"LUCKY I'M NOT LOSING TO YOUR CHEAP TRICKS!" he roared.
He lunged at the original Lucky, finally deciding to cut through the horde. His fist shot forward like a cannon.
But Lucky simply smirked.
FWOOP.
A portal snapped open.
Laxus's punch disappeared… and reappeared below him.
SMASH!
The Thunder Dragon Slayer's own fist slammed into his jaw, staggering him upwards.
"Wha...?!"
The clones swarmed again, this time more coordinated.
One scribbled "Very smooth Floor" on the ground. Another opened a portal above Laxus, dropping a rain of rocks. A third summoned a tiny elemental, basically a glowing, squeaky fire blob that ran straight at Laxus's shins.
"THE HELL IS THIS?!" Laxus bellowed, punting the blob into the forest.
But in that second of distraction, three clones hit him with synchronized kicks.
BAM-BAM-BAM!
"GAAHHHHH!"
Lucky finally stepped forward, stretching his neck lazily. "You thought this would be some grand duel, didn't you?" His smirk widened. "But I don't plan to lose this time."
At his signal, every remaining clone froze, then cracked their knuckles in eerie unison.
The ground trembled as portals opened all around the clearing, the air glowing with instant scripts.
Laxus's eyes widened. "…Oh crap."
"Pile on him," Lucky ordered.
And the clones descended.
A tidal wave of fists, feet, portals, and scripts crashed over Laxus. His grunts, his curses, his furious roars were drowned under the overwhelming swarm. He fought like a beast, tossing clones aside, smashing them into smoke, but there were too many. Every time he swung, ten more grabbed him. Every time he broke free, a script or portal tripped him, dragged him, slammed him back into the dirt. What Laxus doesn't know is that every time one of the clones disappears, he reappears again after all. When the clone disappears, all mana goes back to the other, which makes it so they can clone the dissipated clones again, which in the end causes a loop of unlimited clones.
Lucky finally joined in, appearing right in front of Laxus with a portal-assisted uppercut.
"It seems I won this fight... Laxus"
WHAM!
The Thunder Dragon Slayer's head snapped back.
Another clone hit him in the gut. Another kneed him in the ribs.
Lucky's calm voice echoed through the chaos. "Ok, Guys, stop."
By the time the dust settled, the battlefield was silent.
Laxus lay sprawled in the dirt, bruised, beaten, his pride shattered. His fists twitched weakly, but he couldn't rise.
Lucky stood over him, brushing dust off his cloak. He took a long sip of his juice, then set it down with a sigh.
"…Too easy."
The clones erupted into cheers, waving banners, hoisting Lucky onto their shoulders like he'd just won a championship match.
From Magnolia, the guild was dead silent.
For the first time in Fairy Tail history… no one knew what to say.
————————————————————
The jungle clearing was quiet. Too quiet.
The mighty Laxus Dreyar, Fairy Tail's golden thunder, grandson of the master, lay face-first in the dirt, twitching slightly like a fried fish. Smoke rose faintly from his clothes where portal-assisted punches had slammed him into his own attacks.
Above him, Lucky stood unscathed. Not a scratch, not a drop of sweat. He cracked his knuckles once, shook out his wrist, then calmly picked up his juice from where he'd left it on a rock.
He sipped. Slowly. Casually.
"…Done already?" he muttered, almost disappointed. Then, turning to the projection, he is looking at the Guild. He gave a grin to the Projection orb and, with a peace sign, "Yours Truly has won."
The clones around him roared with victory. They threw confetti (from where they got it, nobody knew), waved massive banners that said "BOSS WINS BY A LANDSLIDE", and even lifted a giant painted sign that read:
"Prediction: 3000 rounds. Reality: 3 minutes."
————————————————————
The guild hall projection flickered with the live feed of the battlefield.
At first, silence. Every jaw in Fairy Tail had dropped. Even the rowdiest gamblers froze mid-bet.
Then, chaos.
"WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST WATCH?!"
"HE GOT DOGPILED BY HIS OWN GUILD BROTHER!"
"NO WAY THAT WAS FAIR BUT HOLY CRAP IT WAS FUNNY!"
————————————————————
Gray had his face buried in his hands, snorting with uncontrollable laughter. "He… he… he made Laxus punch himself…!"
Natsu, still pale from seasickness at the beach, pounded his fists against the sand, furious. "HEY! WHY DOES LUCKY GET TO BE COOL?! I WANNA PUNCH LAXUS TOO!"
Cana, back in the clearing but leaning against a tree, whistled. "Well… guess I don't feel too bad losing now. That was savage."
Wakaba and Macao, watching from the sidelines of their own defeat, shared a look and shuddered. "Imagine if both had gone serious on us…"
"Don't say it out loud, man. I still want to sleep tonight."
Even calm, proud, unshakable Erza had crossed her arms, her expression caught somewhere between impressed and mildly horrified. "…That was… Amazing."
————————————————————
On the magical orb, Makarov's face appeared larger than in real life.
At first, he rubbed his forehead, muttering under his breath. "This… this is what my guild has come to…"
Then, slowly, a grin tugged at his lips. His eyes sparkled with something halfway between exasperation and pride.
"…You brat. You really don't know how to hold back, do you?"
————————————————————
Laxus groaned, rolling onto his side. His fists clenched into the dirt, his pride burning hotter than his bruises. His voice was hoarse, but his glare was sharp.
"Damn you… Lucky…" he hissed.
Lucky crouched beside him, expression unreadable. For a moment, it almost seemed he might offer a hand up.
Instead, he smirked. "Don't blame me. Blame the rules. They didn't say you can use clonee."
He stood, brushing off his coat, looked at Laxus, who was still on the ground, and extended a hand, "This was a good Fight, Laxus."
Laxus rolled his eyes, but reached his hand towards Lucky
His clones started to clap, and even the guild members back at the guild also clapped.————————————————————
The guild hall projection lingered on Lucky, standing tall, the beaten Laxus at his feet, Erza at his side.
For a long, stretched moment, Fairy Tail's loudest guild was silent.
Not a cheer. Not a jeer. Just… silence.
No one knew what to say.
Until one of Lucky's clones, still holding a giant banner, spoke up from the beachside crowd:
"Welp… guess Boss is your new S-Class, huh?"
And just like that, the guild hall exploded.