### Chapter 8: Riku VS Natsu
"Me!! Let me go!!"
Natsu was the first to raise his hand and shout. Although he was also a bit surprised that Gildarts had actually taken a disciple, none of that mattered.
Once Gildarts left, he would be gone for a short month or a long year or so before returning. This time he had been gone for half a year, and Natsu could no longer suppress his desire to settle things with Gildarts.
As long as defeating the other person meant he could challenge Gildarts, then this was a good opportunity.
As for Gildarts' disciple, he also really wanted to settle things with him.
"Natsu, huh! Alright! Let's start with you!"
Seeing Natsu so eager, Gildarts agreed.
"Riku, go easy on him in a bit!"
Gildarts whispered in Riku's ear, knowing full well how terrifying Riku's destructive power was when he went all out.
Riku nodded. It wasn't a battle against an enemy, so naturally, he would hold back.
Soon, the guild members dispersed, leaving the center for Riku and Natsu.
"Gildarts, I didn't expect you to actually take a disciple?"
A short old man appeared beside Gildarts and said.
Gildarts said happily: "Oh!! Master!! Long time no see!!"
This short old man was the Guild Master of Fairy Tail, one of the Ten Wizard Saints, Makarov.
"I happened to meet him on the way. Riku has good talent, and we hit it off, so I took him as a disciple and brought him back to join the guild."
"Oh? To hear that he has good talent from your mouth."
Makarov was somewhat surprised. He knew how proud Gildarts was, having seen the strongest Magic talents. For this young man to be praised by Gildarts for his talent, he couldn't help but be curious about this youth named Riku.
"Hehe! Just wait and see! You'll definitely be very surprised!"
Gildarts deliberately kept him in suspense.
"Gildarts' disciple VS Natsu, who will win?"
"Of course it's Natsu! Don't you know how strong Natsu is?"
"But that's Gildarts' disciple! If he learned Gildarts' Magic..."
"No... that's impossible!"
...
The guild members discussed animatedly, all very curious about what kind of Magic this young man named Riku would use.
If it were Gildarts' Crash Magic, that would be incredible.
"Start!"
Gildarts announced the start of the duel.
"Here I come!"
Natsu shouted excitedly and charged at Riku, flames wrapping around his claws as he attacked Riku.
Zzzzt!
Riku's figure suddenly disappeared, and Natsu's claw swiped at empty air.
"Eh?!"
Natsu was stunned; he didn't expect his attack to miss.
Riku's figure instantly appeared at Natsu's side, his two index fingers pressed together.
He said indifferently: "100,000 Volts! Discharge!!"
CRACKLE————!!
Dazzling lightning hit Natsu at point-blank range.
"WAAAAAHHH!!"
Natsu screamed loudly, then collapsed to the ground with smoke rising from his body, his eyes rolled back as he fainted.
Gildarts announced the result: "The match is decided! Winner! Riku!"
"?!!"
"Natsu was instantly defeated?!!"
"Lightning Element Magic?!!"
"So strong!"...
Everyone in the guild was greatly shocked.
Although Natsu was young, he learned Fire Dragon Slayer Magic, which was very powerful. His strength was in the first tier of the guild, yet he was instantly defeated by the opponent. That was too strong.
And the opponent actually used Lightning Element Magic.
Lightning Element Magic was famous for being domineering. In the Fairy Tail guild, there was also a powerful S-Class Mage who used Lightning Element Magic, and his strength was monstrous.
Gray's mouth twitched as he muttered softly: "Another monster!"
He often fought with Natsu, so he naturally knew how strong Natsu was.
Since the opponent easily instantly defeated Natsu, if he went up, the result would likely be the same. He hadn't even seen the opponent's movements clearly just now.
Mira and Erza both had serious expressions. Riku's movements were too fast just now; neither of them had seen clearly what happened before Natsu was defeated by Riku.
"This guy..."
"...is strong!"
Gildarts shouted: "Anyone else want to challenge him?"
"Me!"
Mira immediately jumped out. No matter what, she couldn't let a newcomer look down on them.
"Mira!"
"Mira is stronger than Natsu!"
"Mira will definitely win!"
"Mira-nee! Do your best!"
...
"Take Over: Satan Soul!"
As soon as Mira went up, she used her Magic. Powerful dark Magic Power radiated from her body, and she quickly transformed into her Satan form.
Her white hair spiked upwards, her ears became pointed and long like an elf's, a pair of black demon wings appeared on her back, her arms turned into powerful demon claws, and a slender, scale-covered tail appeared behind her, just like a demon.
"There it is!"
"Mira's Satan Soul form!"
"Mira is serious right from the start!"
Mira looked at Riku with a fierce expression and said: "You guy, don't think you can get carried away just because you defeated Natsu. Next, I'll show you how powerful I am."
"..."
Riku was instantly speechless. How was he getting carried away? Natsu at this age was obviously not strong enough. He had eaten the Goro Goro no Mi; if he couldn't even beat the current Natsu, then he would be too useless.
Riku didn't know that his silent attitude looked like he was looking down on her to Mira, making her even angrier.
"Start!"