Laxus thought it was a great idea. An all-out fight was the best way to know if his strength was sufficient and to understand the true gap between himself and Noah.

"So, are we starting now?" Laxus asked, looking eager to begin.

Noah waved his hand. "Not yet. Let's make some preparations first. We'll head back to the training ground."

Noah led Laxus back to their training spot, where Erza and Kagura were still practicing. Seeing Noah return and start writing and drawing on the ground around the clearing, Kagura asked, "Big Brother Noah, what are you doing?"

Erza also glanced over, curious, but she quickly turned back to her own practice, only tilting her ear in their direction, clearly interested. Noah saw this but didn't call her out on it, answering Kagura directly.

"I'm planning to have an all-out fight with Laxus. I'm just making some preparations now. Otherwise, if we destroy the surroundings, Gramps will kill us."

A cold sweat broke out on Laxus's back. He had been wondering why Noah didn't just start the fight. So it was to set up protective measures. They were so close to Magnolia, and since he was planning to go all out, the potential for destruction was huge. If they destroyed the surrounding area, it would be bad enough. But if they accidentally damaged a building in town, Makarov might actually have their heads.

Hearing that Noah and Laxus were about to fight, Erza stopped her training and walked over to the side with Kagura. Although she was still a little angry at Noah, she wouldn't let it interfere with important business.

Noah inscribed magic formulas around the entire training ground, setting up a protective barrier. Laxus, in turn, began to adjust his mental state. He wanted to face Noah in his absolute prime to test the limits of his current strength.

Finally, Noah finished writing all the formulas. Laxus had also finished his preparations. Erza and Kagura remained outside the barrier to watch the fight.

Noah and Laxus walked to the center of the field, standing four or five steps apart, facing each other. Noah smiled and beckoned to Laxus. "Come on!"

Laxus grinned, took two quick steps, and charged, throwing a right hook straight at Noah's face. Before the punch even arrived, the force of it was already rushing towards Noah. Unflustered, Noah raised his left palm, and with a loud BANG!, he steadily caught Laxus's fist.

Laxus was prepared for this; he never thought he could win with a single punch. He immediately threw his left fist, also aiming for Noah's face. Noah smiled, raised his right hand, and just as calmly blocked the second punch.

Undeterred, Laxus unleashed a powerful flurry of blows, aiming for Noah's entire body. Noah responded with ease, his palms flying, accurately catching every single one of Laxus's punches. As their fists and palms met, muffled explosions echoed in the air. BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Every impact was a dull thud, followed by a sharp shockwave that expanded outwards. The wind blew Erza's and Kagura's hair up, and they had to hold it down with their hands as they continued to watch. This was the first time either of them had seen Noah in such a fierce battle. Although they had sparred with him before, the intensity was on a completely different level. So this is what a fight between masters is like. They're so strong.

After Laxus had thrown dozens of punches, all of which were blocked by Noah, Noah smiled. "Your power is sufficient, and your constitution is excellent. Now for the rest."

Noah swung his left palm to the side, swatting away Laxus's right fist. With his right palm, he guided Laxus's left fist towards his own chest. Golden magic power gathered in his right hand, and a massive golden Light Cannon erupted, completely enveloping Laxus.

The Light Cannon slammed into the surrounding barrier, creating a huge explosion. Smoke and dust filled the entire field, completely obscuring the situation inside.

A cool breeze blew past, scattering the dust and revealing a huge trench that had been carved into the ground, extending from where Noah stood all the way to the barrier. Erza and Kagura saw that Laxus was gone and exchanged a glance.

"He's not done just like that, is he?" Erza said, puzzled. Noah didn't seem like that kind of person. Kagura also blinked, confused.

"Of course it's not over. You're underestimating Laxus too much. Here he comes!"

As Noah spoke, he looked up. Erza and Kagura followed his gaze and saw a dark figure appear in the sky, falling straight towards Noah. It was Laxus. The moment Noah had fired the Light Cannon, Laxus had instantly covered his body in lightning and leaped high into the air, dodging the blast.

In the air, Laxus's body was wreathed in electricity. He brought his left knee down in a powerful strike aimed at Noah. Noah raised his left arm to block it. However, he couldn't completely absorb Laxus's power. His own knees bent, and he channeled magic into the ground. The earth around him instantly shattered, and the spot where he stood sank, allowing him to buffer the impact. Laxus was sent flying back into the air by the shockwave.

"He destroyed the ground to act as a cushion." Erza watched the battle, bracing against the strong wind. Kagura's physique was a bit weaker, and she was already hiding behind Erza, peeking out to watch the fight.

Noah smiled and looked up at Laxus, who clenched his fists in mid-air, lightning crackling around them. He threw a punch at Noah from above. Noah raised his right arm to block the incoming fist. The lightning on Laxus's fist was completely unable to harm him.

Laxus landed on the ground and immediately threw a left punch. Noah blocked it with the same arm and, using the momentum, pulled Laxus off balance, then struck him in the chin with his right elbow. The blow snapped Laxus's head back. Just as he righted it, Noah's right fist swung outwards, connecting with his left cheek. Before Laxus could react, Noah had already brought his right fist down on top of his head, slamming him into the ground so hard that the lightning aura around him dissipated.

Laxus lay sprawled on the ground, his limbs extended. He clenched his jaw, pushed himself up with his hands, and the lightning reappeared around his body. He pushed off the ground and instantly vanished.

Flashes of lightning appeared all around Noah; Laxus was moving at high speed, circling him. One after another, images of Laxus, wreathed in lightning, attacked Noah from all directions. Noah's expression didn't change as his hands flew, accurately catching every single one of Laxus's high-speed attacks.

~~~

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