Kageyama was gravely injured from the sneak attack—there was no way he could help dispel the wind barrier surrounding the station now.
As for the fat guy who attacked him, Natsu had already sent him flying. Nothing enraged Natsu more than betrayal of comrades, so his anger was only natural.
Now the real problem was figuring out how to break through the Wind Wall.
The group gathered at the observation platform of the station, frowning as they stared at the storm winds encircling them.
"What? Their target is the old man?!"
After hearing the whole situation from Erza, Natsu couldn't stay still. He launched a fire attack at the Wind Wall—but it bounced back effortlessly.
"Damn it!"
Charles stepped up and caught Natsu. "Seriously? After all these years, you've made no progress? You can't even deal with a barrier like this?"
Natsu looked up. "So you're saying you can break through it?"
Charles walked ahead. "Watch closely. The magic Igneel taught us can even knock out dragons. A little breeze like this? Please."
Lucy scooted closer to Natsu. "Hey, are you sure you know this guy?"
Natsu, clearly excited to see what Charles could do, answered, "Yeah! Charles is my brother. Just like me, he was raised by Igneel.
And he's super strong—I've never beaten him, not even once! Who knows how much stronger he's gotten these past years… I'm totally challenging him again later."
"Stronger than Natsu?!"
Lucy looked at Charles as if she were staring at some terrifying monster.
Back when she first met Natsu, he'd blasted an entire harbor apart with one move. She knew exactly how powerful he was.
And if Natsu himself said he always lost to Charles… just how strong was this guy?
The answer came quickly.
Charles bent his body slightly forward. A crimson dragon-mark magic circle opened before him.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
A torrent of flames erupted, smashing into the Wind Wall. The flame and wind clashed for only a few heartbeats before the fire broke through completely, shredding the Wind Wall with explosive force.
"That's incredible!" Natsu exclaimed. "Charles is still crazy strong!"
"Aye! Way stronger than Natsu," Happy added mercilessly.
Even Erza looked stunned. "Such powerful magic…"
She alone had noticed how Charles broke the barrier—with nothing but overwhelming magical force.
Seeing how calm he looked afterward, she couldn't even guess the limits of his strength.
Just then, the collapsed Kageyama struggled to speak. "It's useless… Even if you break the barrier, you'll never catch up to Master Erigor…"
The group's good mood vanished immediately. He had a point—Erigor could fly with his wind magic. They had no way to match that speed.
Charles turned to Natsu. "Alright, I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself. Let's see how much you've grown. I'll get you there."
With that, fiery wings extended from Charles's back.
"Cooool!" Natsu's eyes lit up. "Charles, you learned flight magic?!"
Charles grabbed Natsu's shoulder. "We're heading out first. You guys catch up when you can."
With a roar of flames, Charles launched them both into the air.
Happy stood off to the side playing with his paws. "That's my job!!"
Erigor might've been a wind mage, but there was no way he could outfly Charles. Even carrying Natsu, Charles caught up quickly.
They spotted the shirtless, scythe-wielding white-haired man flying ahead. Charles grinned wickedly. "There's our guy. Your turn, Natsu."
"Alright! I'm gonna beat the crap outta—wait, Charles, hold on… AAHHH!"
Before Natsu could finish his sentence, Charles chucked him straight at Erigor.
Hearing a sudden noise behind him, Erigor turned just in time to get a full-speed Natsu to the gut.
He doubled over, eyes bulging.
Charles hovered in the air, laughing at the scene of both of them tumbling to the ground.
Yep. Little brothers were meant to be teased. Especially sturdy ones—no need to worry about breaking them!
All for your growth, kid. Charles could hardly suppress his grin. Okay, maybe he was enjoying this too much.
Erigor clutched his stomach and got up, glaring at the dizzy, spiraling-eyed Natsu. "Fairy Tail?! Damn gnats… You got here faster than expected.
No matter. I'll wipe you out and use Lullaby to curse all the guild masters to death!"
Natsu shook off the stars in his vision and growled, "Keep dreaming! I won't let you do that!"
"You brat… Don't act tough! Disappear!"
Erigor raised his palm, summoning a magic circle from which a violent wind blasted Natsu away.
Natsu caught himself midair, feet igniting in flame. He leapt high and threw a fire-covered punch at Erigor.
Erigor simply flew higher, dodging the strike with ease.
Charles watched calmly from above, nodding slightly. Natsu had definitely grown stronger over the years… but he was still too raw.
Fire and wind were a tricky match. When paired properly, they amplified each other. But they also held a subtle opposition—wind could blow out fire, while heat currents from fire could disrupt wind.
Ultimately, it came down to power.
And right now, Natsu's strength wasn't enough to overpower Erigor's storm barrier.
Especially that "Storm Mail" Erigor wore—his whole body was wrapped in swirling wind, not leaving a single opening.
Even Natsu's Fire Dragon Iron Fist couldn't get close.
Charles sighed. He was starting to think the memory alterations that had affected Natsu—such as the events with Anna and the Eclipse Gate—had also weakened his grasp on the core of his magic.
The essence of Dragon Slayer Magic was dragon power. Fire was merely a manifestation of it. And it wasn't fueled by magic alone—but by emotion.
That's why Fire Dragon Slayer flames were called "flames of emotion." The hotter the emotions, the stronger the fire.
In battle, Charles drew his fire from his fervent will to fight and determination to win—fighting that way all his life.
It was also why, in the original story, Natsu could always power up in crucial moments. His straightforward nature made emotional control difficult, but when he did ignite, he burned brighter than anyone.
Charles couldn't stand to watch anymore. He shouted, "Natsu! After all these years, this is how you fight?! As your big brother, I'm seriously disappointed!"
Since Natsu couldn't control his emotions, Charles would do it for him.
"What did you say?!"
The flames around Natsu instantly surged, visibly stronger.
Charles twisted the knife. "Man… if I'd known you were this useless, I'd have brought that Gray guy instead!"
Natsu practically exploded. His fire roared sky-high.
Charles smiled. Yep. Natsu was still as simpleminded as ever—classic bait worked like a charm.
Erigor looked stunned as the wind around him suddenly twisted—Natsu's raging flames had created powerful updrafts that unraveled his storm barrier.
"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!!"
With his winds disrupted, Erigor had nothing left to protect himself.
And Natsu's flaming headbutt blasted him out of the sky in a single, spectacular hit.
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