"Tch. You're pretty fast for a guy who just needs to take one good punch."
Rayne retracted his fist, clicking his tongue in irritation as he glared at Laxus, who'd narrowly dodged.
"Hell no!"
Laxus, still shaken from the near-hit, scowled.
Even without direct contact, the sheer force behind that punch had made his skin prickle with warning. Taking it head-on would've been brutal.
"Too bad. You started this fight—now finish it!"
A wild grin split Rayne's face as magic-enhanced muscles coiled. Dirt exploded beneath his feet before anyone even saw him move.
He shot forward like a bullet skimming the ground, closing the distance before his taunt finished echoing.
His right knee drove upward in a vicious strike—the air itself whined from the pressure.
Laxus didn't doubt it could snap a tree trunk in half.
"Hngh—!"
Bending backward at an impossible angle, Laxus arched his body just enough to let Rayne's momentum carry him overhead.
The second Rayne passed, Laxus twisted upright, already tracking his opponent's trajectory.
Rayne had already pivoted mid-air, now flying backward but still facing him.
"Lightning Spear—!"
Golden electricity crackled in Laxus's palm before lashing out like a whip.
The condensed bolt screamed through the air, its mana density making even the surrounding grass tremble.
Rayne landed hard—and instead of dodging, his clawed hand swung up, wreathed in crimson flames.
BOOM!
Lightning and fire collided in a deafening explosion. A shockwave flattened the meadow, sending ripples through the grass like waves.
Rayne, still off-balance from the impact, skidded backward, boots carving twin trenches into the earth.
"Hmph!"
Laxus scoffed at Rayne's monstrous resilience, but didn't pause. The moment his Lightning Spear dispersed, he slammed both palms into the ground.
A golden magic circle flared beneath Rayne's feet.
Twin chains of lightning shot up, coiling around his legs like serpents.
"Game over!"
Laxus grinned triumphantly—but kept pouring mana into his next spell.
"Let the heavens roar—"
The air crackled as a storm cloud of pure lightning gathered above Rayne.
Yet Rayne didn't even glance up. He just stared at the chains around his ankles.
To the watching guild, it looked like surrender.
Guildside Reactions:
"Shame. Rayne's lagging in magic versatility."
"Can't blame him. Requip relies on stocked weapons—kid's probably only got one decent blade."
"Holder-type mages do struggle early on..."
"Still, he pushed Laxus to the edge. That's impressive."
"Damn right. That brute-force style's terrifying."
Murmurs of sympathy spread. To them, this wasn't Rayne's loss—just a mismatch in resources.
**"Gramps, do something!"**
Carolyn gripped Makarov's sleeve, eyeing the brewing storm with dread. That spell's aura screamed lethal.
But before Makarov could intervene—
"Unnecessary."
Conanna's calm voice cut through the panic.
"This won't stop Rayne."
Every head turned to the white-haired girl, who simply pointed at the field.
"Watch."
Battlefield Insight:
"...Huh. So lightning resistance is a thing now."
Rayne flexed against the bindings, surprised. He'd braced for paralysis—but the chains felt no different than rope.
Conanna's influence?
Her true form was a lightning dragon. Some of her traits must've seeped into his physiology during their bond.
Might even unlock thunder magic later.
A feral smirk tugged at his lips.
Laxus's Finisher:
"—CRUMBLE BEFORE THE LIGHTNING'S WRATH!!"
The chant climaxed. The storm cloud pulsed, mana condensing into a single, annihilating strike.
"Boost."
Rayne's whisper was barely audible.
The green jewel at his wrist flashed.
Power flooded his veins—his heartbeat became a war drum, blood burning like magma. Mana doubled in an instant.
"What—?!"
Makarov and Gildarts jolted at the sudden spike. Even Laxus faltered mid-cast.
"Too late for power-ups!" Laxus roared, hands slamming down.
The sky split.
A torrent of lightning crashed toward Rayne—
—who punched upward, flames erupting into a crimson dragon of pure mana.
The beast howled, its maw wide as it clashed against the storm.
read lots story at patreon
always update and finish
belamy20 only for 5$