In the dust, Natsu was pushed back several steps, his fists bleeding. Vulcan of Adamantite also retreated, its fists charred, but its ferocity grew stronger! It roared, gathering magic power once more!
Suddenly! On the mountain wall behind it, a huge, hideous claw mark, scorched by flames, came into Natsu's view!
The shape of that claw mark... was incredibly familiar!
Natsu was struck as if by lightning! His pupils contracted sharply! All his flames extinguished instantly! He stood rooted to the spot!
"That claw mark... is... is..." Natsu's voice trembled, filled with disbelief and a deep-seated longing and sadness.
"Igneel...?" He murmured to himself, as if all strength had been drained from him in an instant, his eyes reddening.
"Natsu?!" Lucy exclaimed, not understanding what had happened.
Vulcan of Adamantite didn't care! It seized Natsu's moment of distraction! Its gigantic fist, wreathed in destructive purple light, smashed down fiercely!
"Natsu!!!" Lucy and Macao screamed!
In the nick of time!
"Water Flow Movement!" Christian instantly liquefied, blocking in front of Natsu!
'Predator'! Overload! Target: The dark purple magic power fist!
The Devouring Field expanded to its limit!
Boom!!!
The giant fist slammed into the blue water barrier! Dark purple magic power surged in wildly! Terrifying curses and power impacted the core!
"Alert! Excessive cursed magic power is pouring in! Analysis overloaded! Erosion intensifying! Magic power resisting!"
Pfft!
Chris was hit, its blue gelatinous body instantly dulled and cracked! A large amount of gelatinous substance evaporated! Its volume visibly shrunk by a circle!
"Chris!" Lucy's heart was torn with fear!
Intense pain! Beneath 'Pain Nullification' was a tearing sensation on an energy level! But the core held firm!
Devouring! Absorbing! It neutralized most of the power!
The residual impact sent Natsu and Christian flying together!
Natsu crashed into a tree! The intense pain brought him back to his senses! Seeing the blue Slime, shrunken and with its surface dulled and cracked from protecting him, his pupils sharply contracted! An indescribable rage instantly ignited!
"Ch-Chris..." Natsu's voice was hoarse.
"Roar!" Vulcan of Adamantite charged again, relentless!
"You... are seeking death!!!" Natsu's fury completely ignited! Flames shot skyward, far surpassing before! The Dragon's rage erupted!
"I absolutely will not allow you to harm my family... twice!!"
"Fire Dragon's—"
"Roar!!!!"
A scorching white, violent torrent of flames, carrying the Dragon Slayer's wrath, blasted destructively towards Vulcan of Adamantite!
Fear finally showed in Vulcan of Adamantite's eyes! It crossed its arms to block!
Sizzle—Boom!!!
Flames consumed everything! Dark purple magic power melted like snow! The anguished screams were drowned out by the inferno!
When the flames dissipated, only a charred, deep crater remained, Vulcan of Adamantite was nowhere to be seen.
Natsu gasped for breath, his flames extinguished. He rushed to Christian's side immediately.
The blue Slime had shrunk to the size of a basketball. Its surface was covered in spiderweb-like dull cracks. The core's light was dim. But the faint glow of 'Self-Regeneration' stubbornly flickered, slowly repairing it.
"Chris! How are you?!" Natsu's voice held a rare urgency.
"I... I'm fine, core... unharmed, regenerating." Chris's voice was weak but steady.
"That's good..." Natsu sighed in relief, then looked at the claw mark on the mountain wall, his gaze complex. The anger receded, leaving behind deep longing and confusion.
"Natsu..." Lucy came over, supporting a weakened Macao.
"Uncle Macao?" Natsu looked at him.
"Cough... Thanks to you all... especially... this Slime fellow..." Macao looked at Christian, filled with gratitude. "That monster's curse... was too terrifying..."
"Let's go back!" Natsu hoisted Macao onto his back. "Happy! Lead the way!"
"Aye!"
Lucy carefully picked up the shrunken, cracked Chris. The cold, damaged gelatinous touch made her heart ache. "I'm sorry... Mr. Christian... It was all to protect us..."
The blue Slime, in her arms, its core's faint light flickering. "Alert. New skills acquired: 'Curse Resistance (Weak)', 'Overload Devour'. Analysis of Vulcan of Adamantite complete. Significant amplification of Strength and Endurance gained."
The core was exhausted, but it recorded: Natsu, who was protected... Lucy, who was worried... Macao, who was grateful... "Family... guardianship..."
The concept in the repairing core... became a little clearer.
Under the setting sun, Happy led the way. Natsu carried Macao. Lucy held the injured blue Slime. They embarked on their journey home.
Towards Magnolia, the Fairy Tail flag seemed to burn in the twilight.