Chapter 23

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Under Noah's perception, Natsu's magic power seemed like a chemical substance, with each element that made up this substance clearly presented before Noah's eyes, imprinted in his senses.

Therefore, while the other members of the 'Fairy Tail' guild were still half-believing and half-doubting Natsu's words, Noah almost believed Natsu.

To some extent, a person's magic power can also be seen as their own aura.

If magic power were to be compared to water, each individual with magic power would be a different flavor of water, but water is still water, and this fact would not change.

However, in Noah's perception, Natsu's magic power felt different from others.

How to put it?

If a forced analogy were to be made, Natsu's magic power could be compared to ink.

Although ink can also be considered a type of water and is different from other waters, it definitely has its own taste, yet it cannot be drunk and has a smell that ordinary water does not have, and its color is black, making it easily distinguishable from water.

Now, Natsu's magic power gave Noah a similar feeling. Even though it was still water, it was clearly different from the magic power of ordinary people, very special.

Of course, being special is not strange. After all, Natsu learned the lost magic that has been passed down since ancient times and has even been lost, so it is not abnormal for his magic power to be different from others and extremely special.

However, Noah could not help but be concerned.

The reason was simple.

It was because the feeling of Natsu's magic power was too close to the feeling of the magic power Noah sensed in Laxus!

Both were magic powers that seemed to hide a fierce beast within!

And Natsu, who possessed this kind of magic power, was the user of 'Dragon Slayer Magic'!

Could it be that Laxus...

Just as a certain guess rose in Noah's mind, an elderly voice echoed throughout the guild hall at the entrance of the guild.

"Natsu is telling the truth!"

Under the gaze of all the members of the 'Fairy Tail' guild, Makarov walked in from outside and said these surprising words.

"Natsu indeed learned the 'Dragon Slayer Magic' of fire, which means Natsu is a Dragon Slayer Mage!"

"Dragon Slayer Mage..." Everyone looked at Natsu, who had just been on the verge of tears but now looked smug, with astonishment.

"Is that true?"

"Dragon Slayer Mage?"

"Who would have thought that such an ancient mage would really appear in 'Fairy Tail'..."

"And he's just a kid..."

Apart from the mages of the 'Fairy Tail' guild, Erza also said to Noah with interest.

"That boy named Natsu seems quite capable."

"Fire 'Dragon Slayer Magic'?" Gray, who was still lying on the ground, stared intently at Natsu and grinned.

"Interesting, he's someone worth fighting!"

"Hmph!" Natsu, like a little man with a long nose, placed his hands on his hips and laughed heartily.

"How about it? Scared?"

"Isn't this great?" Erza, who was eager to move, stepped forward with a smile.

"Why don't we have a match?"

"A match?" Everyone immediately started to chatter, looking as if they were hoping for chaos.

"Great, great!"

"How about the kid named Natsu, fighting Erza?"

"Let us see the power of a Dragon Slayer Mage!"

"Against you?" Natsu's eyes lit up, and he jumped out excitedly.

"Alright! I'll beat you! This will prove that I'm stronger than that **!"

"Idiot!" Gray, unusually, did not get angry but looked at Natsu with pity.

"You'll soon see how terrifying Erza is!"

Encouraged by all the members of the 'Fairy Tail' guild, Natsu predictably agreed, and Erza also seemed eager, clearly having developed some interest in 'Dragon Slayer Magic'.

Unfortunately, Erza was not destined to participate today.

"Erza!" Noah suddenly raised his head and said.

"Let me have this match!"

The entire hall fell silent.

"Noah?" Erza looked at Noah with confusion.

"Are you an idiot?!" Gray's face showed shock.

"Even if that spiky-headed idiot is weak, he's still a mage. Noah, you haven't learned magic yet, why are you jumping in here?!"

"Haven't learned magic?" Natsu was even more surprised.

"How can you fight me without learning magic?"

Not just Erza, Natsu, and Gray, but all the members of the 'Fairy Tail' guild looked puzzled.

"Little Noah, don't be impulsive!"

"Even if you want to challenge someone, wait until you've learned magic."

"Right, right!"

"Wait until you've learned magic!"

Noah, however, smiled and said nothing, his gaze directly meeting Natsu's confused expression.

"How about it? Want to try?"

Seeing Noah's unwavering determination, everyone except Erza started to murmur.

"Natsu!" At this moment, Makarov spoke up.

"Have a match with Noah!"

"Alright!" Although he didn't know what was going on, Natsu clenched his fist enthusiastically.

"Since Grandpa Guild Master said so, don't regret it later!"

Hearing Natsu's words, Noah said nothing, slowly nodding, a glint of interest in his eyes.

As Erza had said, Noah was indeed interested in 'Dragon Slayer Magic'.

However, it wasn't just because 'Dragon Slayer Magic' was a lost magic or because it was a powerful magic used to fight dragons.

...

In the open area in front of the 'Fairy Tail' guild's entrance, many people had formed a circle, surrounding the two young boys inside.

"Go for it, little Noah!"

"Don't lose, Dragon Slayer Mage!"

"Fight, fight!"

"Alright!" Standing opposite Noah, Natsu, who was casually standing there with one hand on the hilt of his knight's sword, raised a fist, his face full of excitement.

"I'm coming!"

As he spoke, a considerable amount of magic power slowly rose from Natsu's raised fist, and flames suddenly burst into life on his fist. Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, he roared and charged straight at Noah.

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist——!"

When Natsu was less than two meters away from Noah, he leaped up, his fist raised high, the flames on it slightly condensed, and he struck Noah's chest with a powerful punch.

A gentle breeze blew Noah's bangs, revealing his deep, dark eyes. Staring at the flame-covered fist, just before it reached his chest, Noah calmly took a step to the left.

Three months of training had honed Noah's reflexes to an excellent level.

To Noah, Natsu's punch was much slower compared to Erza's lightning-fast slashes.

Thus, Noah's step was just enough to dodge Natsu's flaming punch. He slightly sidestepped, and his palm, like a needle through a gap, slipped past Natsu's arm and lightly pressed against Natsu's shoulder as he lunged forward.

"Bang——!"

A dull thud echoed as Natsu, struck by Noah's palm, let out a muffled groan and flew backward at a speed faster than he had come, finally crashing into the ground nearby, landing on his back with a cry of pain.

The surrounding sounds instantly disappeared.