As I stood before Erza, I turned to face her, determination etched into every line of my face. "Erza, let me handle this. I've always wanted to test my strength against someone like Laxus," I said with confidence, feeling a surge of power well up inside me.
Erza hesitated for a moment but then nodded, stepping back to give us space. "Be careful, Jade," she warned, her voice calm yet filled with concern.
Turning my attention back to Laxus, I felt an aura of light envelop me. "Are you ready to get your ass kicked, Laxus?" I challenged, my eyes locked onto his.
Laxus smirked, his own aura crackling with electricity. "Don't think for a second that you stand a chance against me. I'm going to beat you so badly you'll regret ever crossing me," he declared, his voice a growl of thunder.
Without another word, we launched ourselves at each other. Laxus' lightning magic crackled in the air, his hands glowing with electric energy. He sent a bolt of lightning towards me, but I dodged swiftly, my body transforming into light and reappearing behind him. I conjured light arrows and fired them in rapid succession, aiming to catch him off guard.
Laxus deflected the arrows with ease, his mastery of lightning magic evident in his every move. He summoned a massive bolt of lightning from above, chanting, "Resounding through the air, the roar of thunder, plunge from the heavens and reap destruction!"
The bolt descended, but I quickly raised a shield of light to absorb the impact. The cathedral shook with the force of the attack, but my barrier held firm. I countered with a ball of light, launching it toward Laxus. As it neared him, the ball split into multiple rays that spiraled, burning everything in their path.
Laxus grunted as he narrowly avoided the attack, his expression hardening. "Not bad," he muttered. He then propelled himself towards me with a burst of lightning, his fists electrified. I met him head-on, conjuring a sword of light in my hand to block his strike.
Our clash sent sparks flying, the cathedral lit up with bursts of light and electricity. Neither of us gave an inch, our powers clashing in a dazzling display of strength and skill. Laxus swung at me again, his attacks faster and more ferocious. I dodged and parried, my light magic creating clones to distract him and give me openings to strike.
"You're going to have to do better than that," Laxus sneered, summoning lightning to his legs and using it to increase his speed. He vanished and reappeared, launching a series of rapid attacks. I barely managed to keep up, my light magic allowing me to move at the speed of light to avoid his strikes.
I conjured multiple light swords, sending them flying toward him. Laxus twisted and turned, his movements a blur of electricity. "Lightning Dragon's Roar!" he shouted, unleashing a torrent of lightning in my direction. I raised my shield of light once more, the energy crackling against it as I held my ground.
Summoning all my strength, I decided to try a new technique. "Solar Flare!" I cried, concentrating light energy into my hands to form a brilliant sphere. I hurled it at Laxus, and as it neared him, the sphere exploded into numerous beams of light, spiraling outward and searing everything they touched.
Laxus was forced to backpedal, his expression a mixture of frustration and determination. He retaliated with a powerful strike, his clenched fist glowing with electric energy. I dodged, feeling the air crackle as his attack missed by mere inches.
"Photon Blade Dance!" I called out, conjuring blades of pure light that danced around me, controlled by my will. I sent them slashing towards Laxus with surgical precision. He dodged most of them, but a few managed to cut through his defenses, leaving shallow wounds.
"You're tougher than I thought," Laxus admitted, his breath coming in heavy gasps. He raised his hand, electricity gathering around his clenched fist. "But this ends now!"
Before he could unleash his attack, I stepped forward, light magic surging through me. "Not if I can help it," I replied, summoning a larger sword of light, combining several of the smaller blades into one devastating weapon. I swung it with all my might, aiming for Laxus.
Our attacks collided in a blinding flash of light and electricity, the shockwave rattling the cathedral walls. For a moment, it seemed like neither of us would give in. The power we wielded was immense, and the strain was beginning to show.
As the dust settled, we were both breathing heavily, sweat pouring down our faces. Laxus looked at me, a mixture of respect and anger in his eyes. "You're strong, Jade. But not strong enough to defeat me," he growled, summoning another bolt of lightning.
Before the battle could continue, the grand doors of the cathedral burst open. Natsu's voice echoed through the hall. "Laxus! Deactivate the Thunder Palace!" he shouted angrily.
Natsu charged at Laxus recklessly, his fiery aura blazing. Laxus easily repelled Natsu's attacks with his Lightning Magic, calling him "trash." Natsu, undeterred, used his Fire Dragon Slayer Magic, determined to win. But Laxus was not an easy opponent. He effortlessly countered Natsu's fiery onslaught.
Laxus grabbed Natsu's arm, preventing him from escaping, and began landing powerful lightning punches. "You're not running away," Laxus sneered. Natsu, however, was not going down without a fight. He also grabbed Laxus' arm, locking them in a fierce struggle. They exchanged blows, their attacks echoing through the cathedral.
"Who do you think you are, Laxus?!" Natsu growled, his eyes blazing with determination.
"I'm the one who's going to change this guild," Laxus replied, his voice dripping with arrogance.
With a powerful blow, Laxus shoved Natsu away, sending him crashing into a pillar. Erza, who had been watching intently, asked, "What are those floating Lacrima around Magnolia Town for?"
Laxus smirked. "Those are my Thunder Palace," he said, his tone mocking.
Erza's eyes widened with fury. "Natsu, take out those Lacrimas!" she commanded.
Natsu, struggling to his feet, revealed, "They're protected by Organic Link Magic. Anyone who destroys them will be hit back."
Erza, undeterred, prepared to leave. "I'll destroy them," she said, her resolve unshaken.
"It's impossible," Laxus taunted. "Destroying hundreds of them might kill someone."
Erza glanced at Natsu, determination in her eyes. "We'll complete our goals," she said. "Come back alive," Natsu urged.
"I have no intention of wasting the life that was once saved by Jade," Erza replied.
Just before she left, I called out, "Erza, don't worry. I'll help you." I created three clones of light. "These light clones will assist you. Be careful not to overestimate yourself—it could be dangerous."
Erza nodded, her expression grateful. "Thank you, Jade. I'll be careful," she said, then turned and left with my clones to destroy the lightning Lacrima.
As I turned back to face Laxus, Natsu stood beside me, still determined despite his injuries. "Ready for round two?" I asked, a steely resolve in my voice.
Natsu nodded, flames flickering around his fists. "Let's take him down together," he said.