Black Clover: The Son of Fire Dragon Igneel

"A Lesson"

Gajeel couldn't understand his own state; he didn't understand why the mere sight of his opponent triggered an overwhelming urge to flee.

Sometimes, fear drives people to desperate escape, but for others, fear is nothing but shame.

Gajeel was one of the latter; he wouldn't allow himself such weakness.

Roaring, Gajeel charged towards Drake, who seemed like a god of flame.

Iron Dragon's Sword!

Fire Dragon Slayer Magic uses flames to enhance a mage's strength and speed, while Iron Dragon Slayer Magic transforms the user's body into iron, allowing for its manipulation.

Gajeel's arm transformed into a greatsword with numerous sharp spikes, which he swung viciously at Drake.

Although it was called a sword, the Iron Dragon's Sword moved like a chainsaw, an undeniably powerful and devastating attack.

Unfortunately, to Drake, Gajeel was still too inexperienced!

"Too much movement, nothing but openings!" Drake said nonchalantly, stepping forward and placing his hand on the blade of the Iron Dragon's Sword.

Large swords rely on their weight to generate immense destructive force, even if the blade itself isn't exceptionally sharp.

However, even so, a sword's power is concentrated in its blade; the hilt is its most vulnerable point, the place an enemy should never be allowed to grasp.

For those wielding bladed Spirit Weapons in Drake's world, this was fundamental knowledge.

Yet, Gajeel's straightforward attack exposed this fatal flaw to Drake, making it almost too easy for Drake to counter.

Drake's palm made contact with the Iron Dragon's Sword and instantly separated. Gajeel leaped back, his face contorted in a grimace.

A bright red handprint appeared on the Iron Dragon's Sword, as if seared there by a red-hot branding iron.

As the Iron Dragon's Sword reverted back to Gajeel's arm, the handprint became a burn. Gajeel examined the injury on his arm, his gaze filled with apprehension as he looked at Drake.

Normally, flame and iron are not inherently counter-elements at the same level. However, Drake's flames were clearly of a different caliber—they possessed an extremely high temperature capable of melting steel.

Moreover, Drake had instantly seized upon Gajeel's opening. His combat prowess was far superior.

Gajeel couldn't help but question whether Guild Master Jose's decision to initiate war against Fairy Tail had been too rash.

However, under the current circumstances, Gajeel was more concerned about his own predicament.

Drake, perceiving Gajeel's hesitation, spoke, "You're not as stubborn as you used to be, kid. That's commendable! In light of your apparent growth, you could choose to run away now. I won't stop you."

Drake couldn't help but recall their younger days, when Gajeel, true to his upbringing by an Iron Dragon, was incredibly stubborn.

Perhaps due to their conflicting elemental affinities, Gajeel hadn't gotten along well with Drake and Natsu back then.

Natsu's strength was on par with Gajeel's at the time, yet Drake had always soundly defeated him. But Gajeel, ever defiant, would always aggressively challenge Drake again after each defeat.

That's why Drake commented on Gajeel's growth; he was actually considering the disparity in their strengths.

However, even if Gajeel had genuinely considered a temporary retreat, Drake's words made such a course of action impossible! He wouldn't allow himself to be ridiculed for fleeing after only two exchanges of blows.

"Less chatter! I'll crush you!" Gajeel snarled, his arm already transforming into steel.

Drake shook his head. "I just praised you, and you're back to your old ways! But it's fine; let's reminisce about the old days!"

Gajeel lunged forward, his arm transforming into a sharp iron spear.

"Stop with the strange talk!"

Iron Dragon's Spear!

Drake easily sidestepped the incoming spear. Gajeel, his attack having missed its mark, swiftly retracted the spear, then, with a sudden flip, used his leg, transformed into an iron club, to strike Drake.

The iron club connected squarely with Drake's raised arm, sending him flying back a considerable distance.

Before Drake's flames could erupt, Gajeel retracted the iron club. His arm, now transformed into an iron spear, was already aimed directly at Drake.

Iron Dragon's Kunai!

The iron spear shot forth from a newly opened magic circle, the air itself exploding with a resounding bang as it pierced through. Unlike his ordinary Iron Dragon's Spear, this technique was a high-speed, continuous barrage of attacks.

The ground where Drake had been standing was instantly pulverized, yet Drake had already vanished from his original position.

Gajeel only saw the flames disperse, and in the next instant, Drake appeared before him like a rocket.

However, Gajeel showed no signs of panic; instead, a smirk played upon his lips.

Drake unleashed a powerful punch, sending Gajeel flying horizontally.

Gajeel's feet dragged long furrows across the ground as he slid, and a wisp of faint smoke curled up from the spot where Drake's fist had connected with his chest.

Despite this, Gajeel simply brushed off the spot where he'd been hit and rose to his feet, appearing completely unscathed.

Drake flexed his fingers, his gaze fixed upon Gajeel. "Tough, aren't you?"

Drake's praise wasn't without reason; Gajeel had undergone a significant transformation.

Gajeel's entire body was now covered in iron-grey dragon scales, even his face was covered in a fine layer of them.

Dragon scales are inherently one of the most robust materials in existence, and these were the scales of an Iron Dragon, making them all the more formidable.

With this enhanced defense, Gajeel felt a surge of renewed confidence. He charged through the flames, launching himself directly at Drake.

Iron Dragon's Hard Fist!

The fist, encased in dragon scales, was both heavy and powerful, and Gajeel was supremely confident that he could crush Drake's annoying face.

Clang!

Gajeel felt his fist connect with something equally hard.

To his astonishment, he saw that Drake's arm was now adorned with a set of unusually styled armguards.

The name "Dragon Slayer" originated from Siegfried, who obtained an invulnerable body by bathing in dragon's blood. In terms of sheer hardness, these armguards were on par with Gajeel's dragon scales.

Without hesitation, Gajeel continued to unleash a flurry of iron-clad fists aimed at Drake.

Drake, of course, was unfazed, countering with equally swift punches, each one perfectly intercepting Gajeel's blows.

The intense, rhythmic clang of their fists colliding echoed through the air, and Drake seemed to hear some peculiar sounds amidst the clash.

"Ora ora ora…!"

"Muda muda muda…!"

Gajeel noticed Drake's momentary lapse in concentration, but he found himself utterly unable to capitalize on this opening, for in this high-intensity exchange of blows, he simply couldn't find an opportunity to create any distance.

This was even more difficult for Gajeel to accept, as Drake had already begun to gain the upper hand in their intense exchange.

Drake sensed a weakening in the force of Gajeel's punches, instantly realizing that Gajeel was nearing his limit.

After all, Gajeel could be considered his younger brother; a lesson was sufficient; he couldn't afford to inflict too much damage.

Therefore, Drake slowed his rhythm, allowing Gajeel to retreat.

Gajeel stared at his own fist, now glowing red-hot, the dragon scales upon it twisted and deformed. The intense exchange had been akin to the process of forging metal, but his iron, it seemed, couldn't withstand such relentless hammering.

Gajeel finally understood: even his Iron Dragon scales couldn't withstand Drake's flames, and his greatest strength, close-quarters combat, was rendered ineffective.

Iron Dragon's Roar!

Facing the approaching Drake, Gajeel unleashed a torrent of metal in a devastating storm.

The metallic spiral, with its momentum capable of pulverizing anything in its path, surged towards Drake. Drake halted his advance, simultaneously opening a magic circle.

Fire Dragon's Roar!

A fiery dragon of flame shot forth, colliding head-on with the metal storm. Sparks flew in every direction, a spectacle not merely of pulverized flames, but also of metallic fragments being melted by the intense heat.

The clash of their roars quickly subsided, but the fiery inferno showed no immediate signs of dissipating.

Drake could sense a distinctly dangerous magical energy emanating from his opponent.

"A Dragon Slayer Secret Art? How ruthless," Drake murmured with a chuckle, neither flustered nor hurried as he began to prepare his own counterattack.

"Dragon Slayer Secret Art!" x2

Karma Demon: Iron God Sword!

Crimson Lotus Exploding Flame Blade!

Both launched their attacks simultaneously. A massive iron sword, swirling with terrifying magical energy, descended, cleaving straight through the heart of the fiery inferno, aimed directly at Drake.

However, the fiery spiral of Drake's attack intercepted the iron sword with ease, rendering Gajeel's efforts futile, no matter how much magical energy he poured into it.

But after a mere two seconds, Drake's flames directly severed Gajeel's Iron God Sword, sending Gajeel hurtling through the air.

Drake dispelled his magic and his Spirit Weapon, confident that this final attack would be more than enough to bring Gajeel to his senses.

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