"What's the matter, Juvia? At this level, you can't become an S-Class mage."
Hearing Erza's words, Juvia's expression grew determined. "Juvia will defeat you!!"
"Ah—!"
Juvia's body dissolved into a rushing stream of water, surging toward Erza.
Erza dodged swiftly, then slashed with her sword. Juvia's body turned fully aquatic, so even if Erza's blade passed through her, it did no harm.
"Water Flow: Slice!!"
A pressurized jet of water shot at Erza.
"You're too careless, Erza!" Lisanna cried, her arms transforming into bird wings as she aimed for Erza's blind spot from above.
But Erza thrust her sword behind her with both hands and pushed off, evading Juvia's water blade while simultaneously delivering a powerful kick to Lisanna.
"Yah!" Lisanna yelped in pain, crashing onto the ground.
Erza turned back to Juvia, who had just re-formed into her solid self.
"What?!"
Boom, boom, boom!!
A burst of sword aura hammered Juvia.
"Ugh—aaahhh!!"
Route A
Elfman and Evergreen found themselves in a spacious area near the beach, not in a cramped underground passage like the others.
"How can it be…?!"
"We're up against this person…?"
Mirajane—transformed into her Satan Soul—stood facing them with a gentle yet intimidating smile.
"Even if you're my brother, Elfman, I won't hold back."
"Ah!"
"E-Enough with the smiling like that, sis—!"
Route D
Gray and Loke arrived, both trembling slightly.
"H-how do we…deal with this…?" Loke muttered.
Gray, still only half-dressed, braced himself. "We'll fight. I'm gonna become S-Class, no matter what!"
Gildarts stood before them, smiling. "You've got plenty of courage—but unlike Su Yan, I'm not good at holding back."
Route E
"Let's go, Su Yan!!!"
Natsu lunged at Su Yan, fists blazing with fire.
"Waaaah—" Happy wailed. "Don't rush in like that!"
But Natsu knew that Su Yan, from past experience, could foresee or outright counter all his usual attacks; he figured going all-out was better than hesitating. He thrust a flaming fist toward Su Yan's face.
Su Yan merely raised his palm, armament haki glimmering faintly in red, and caught Natsu's blow.
Boom!!!
Natsu's fist slammed into Su Yan's hand, completely blocked.
"Not bad," Su Yan observed. "You've grown a lot stronger. It's been quite a while since we last fought."
"One year, six months, and twenty-eight days!!!" Natsu shouted back. Before Su Yan could counter, Natsu leaped up, flames surging around his leg as he kicked downward.
Again, Su Yan lifted an arm to parry.
Boom—!!
Cracks splintered the ground under Su Yan's feet, showing just how powerful Natsu's kick was.
Natsu understood that Su Yan's defense—and especially his stamina—was monstrous. If the fight dragged on, Su Yan's endurance would prevail. So he had to go full force from the start.
"Has it really been that long?" Su Yan asked calmly.
"Haaaaah—!!!"
Natsu roared, launching a flurry of flame-wreathed punches. Yet Su Yan, with monstrous physical strength and hardened armament haki, brushed off each attack. Fire splashed harmlessly against him.
Om—!!
Suddenly, Su Yan unleashed a wave of conqueror's haki, blasting Natsu backward.
"Guh!" Natsu yelped, flipping through the air and landing on all fours.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!!!"
Natsu inhaled, then spewed a vortex of fire at Su Yan.
Su Yan's palm, wrapped in aura, sliced the flames apart.
Boom—!!
The parted flames licked along the walls. At the same time, Su Yan's haki slash gouged a deep fissure overhead.
Meanwhile, Natsu had leaped upward to avoid the cut. Flames gathered in both hands, merging into a huge fireball.
"Fire Dragon's… Flaming Lotus!!"
He hurled the blazing sphere straight at Su Yan.
Su Yan raised a palm. A massive shape of conqueror's haki formed into a palm and slammed into Natsu's fireball.
Boom—!!
A tremendous explosion rocked the passage, sending dust and debris everywhere.
Seizing this chance, Natsu lunged in close, swirling red-hot flames around his arms like spinning blades.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art! Red Lotus Exploding Blade!!!"
He hacked repeatedly at Su Yan's silhouette inside the swirling dust, culminating in a fierce blast.
When the smoke cleared, Su Yan stood several paces away, clothes slightly torn but otherwise unharmed.
"Happy" gaped. "Impossible… That was Natsu's strongest move! It didn't even scratch him?!"
Natsu's eyes blazed. "No, look, Happy—he actually took half a step back! That's a big improvement for me, ha ha ha!!"
But Happy realized something else: throughout the fight, Su Yan hadn't moved from the start. He also hadn't attacked in earnest, and Natsu himself was already panting hard.
"Haa…haaa…!"
Natsu's breath came in ragged gasps, magic power nearly spent.