Goku extended both hands, and a staggering amount of Ki began to coalesce within his palms. The sheer pressure of the energy caused the surrounding pavement to spiderweb with massive cracks.
Loose stones shattered during the previous exchange began to levitate around him, caught in the vacuum of his power. Suddenly, he slammed his palms together, and the gathered Ki transformed into crackling arcs of lightning that danced between his fingers.
He thrust his hands forward, and a terrifying electrical discharge surged toward Laxus.
Laxus tried to dodge, but the speed of the lightning was beyond his comprehension. The thought of moving had barely formed in his mind before the strike connected.
"How... my body won't move!"
The moment Goku's lightning hit, Laxus was suspended mid-air, completely paralyzed. This was fundamentally different from his own Lightning Magic. Goku's lightning extended continuously from his hands like a tether; it wasn't a single burst, but a constant stream of energy.
However, that wasn't the most shocking part. Laxus couldn't believe he was being restrained by electricity at all. He wasn't just a standard Lightning Mage—he was a Lightning Dragon Slayer.
As a child, his frail body had been unable to inherit the massive magic power of his bloodline. His father, Ivan, had gone to great lengths to obtain a Lightning Dragon Lacrima and had it implanted within him. From that moment on, he became a second-generation Dragon Slayer.
In most battles, his standard Lightning Magic was more than enough, so he rarely revealed his true nature.
As a Dragon Slayer, his physiology had been reconstructed by the Lacrima to mirror that of a Lightning Dragon. By all logic, most lightning-based spells should be useless against him—they should only serve to bolster his strength.
Just as Natsu, the Fire Dragon Slayer, viewed most fire magic as a snack to replenish his energy, Laxus should have been immune.
Yet, Goku's "magic" made his entire body go numb. He was truly pinned, unable to twitch a finger. As the boy intensified the output, Laxus actually began to feel pain.
There was only one explanation. The lightning the boy was using wasn't "normal" magic; its qualitative level was at least equal to, if not higher than, Dragon Slayer Magic.
While a Dragon Slayer has a massive advantage against mages of the same element, it isn't an absolute "win button."
First, there is the issue of raw power disparity.
A novice Fire Dragon Slayer fighting an S-Class fire mage might be able to swallow the opponent's flames, but if the volume of energy is too high, they'd literally explode from over-consumption.
Furthermore, fire isn't just about heat; it's about explosions and kinetic force. A skilled mage can manipulate those aspects to bypass a Slayer's "eating" mechanic.
Second, the "grade" of the element matters.
Dragon Slayer Magic is a form of Lost Magic, but it isn't the only one.
God Slayer Magic or Devil Slayer Magic exist on a similar tier; they aren't suppressed by Dragon Slayer attributes.
In such a clash, victory is determined solely by raw skill and power.
Laxus suspected Goku's lightning fell into such a category.
He was partially right, but mostly wrong. What Goku was using—the Thunder Shock Surprise—wasn't true lightning at all.
Upon closer inspection, a thin shroud of Ki coated the electrical arcs extending from Goku's hands.
This was Ki converted into a lightning-like state, carrying the immense destructive and binding properties of Goku's life force. It was far more potent than natural electricity.
Combined with the fact that Goku's raw power far exceeded Laxus's, the result was total suppression.
"Give up, Laxus!"
Goku dialed up the Ki output. The intensity of the Thunder Shock Surprise spiked, forcing a ragged scream from Laxus's throat.
"Give up? I'm Laxus! I'll never lose to a brat like you!"
Laxus roared, his muscles bulging as they expanded in size. Faint, shimmering dragon scales began to ripple across his skin. His Magic Power surged violently, expanding like a supernova. He stopped hiding his identity and unleashed his true nature.
The massive surge of lightning momentarily blew back the constraints of the Thunder Shock Surprise. Laxus took a deep breath, his chest expanding as he prepared the signature move of his kind:
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Roar of the Lightning Dragon!"
"What!?"
Goku wasn't the one who was surprised—it was the Fairy Tail mages watching from the sidelines. Aside from Makarov, no one knew Laxus was a Dragon Slayer. Natsu and Gajeel looked particularly stunned, their jaws nearly hitting the floor.
Warrod, one of the Four Gods, merely stroked his chin. "This young man's future is limitless."
He recalled Makarov mentioning that Laxus had also inherited the "Red Lightning" potential of his great-grandfather, Yuri Dreyar.
Red Lightning was an elemental attribute no weaker than Dragon Slayer Magic. If Laxus could eventually merge the two, he would truly reach the tier of the Four Gods.
"Now it's getting fun!"
Seeing Laxus break free, Goku didn't panic; he grinned. He crossed his arms in front of his chest as the massive pillar of lightning slammed into him head-on.
Laxus's Roar was on an entirely different level compared to Natsu or Gajeel—the scale of destruction was horrifying.
Yet, as the light faded, Goku stood there without a scratch.
"I don't believe it!"
Seeing that even his full power couldn't leave a mark, Laxus finally began to "break." He became frantic, unleashing a barrage of Dragon Slayer spells at the boy.
"Lightning Dragon's Breakdown Fist!"
"Lightning Dragon's Heavenward Halberd!"
None of it worked.
Goku was performing an incredible feat of control. To suppress Laxus without accidentally killing him, he had engaged Full Concentration Breathing to heighten his precision.
In Goku's mind, you can only truly control a battle if your power is at least 30% higher than your opponent's. If the gap is too small, you have to go all out, and going all out against a "comrade" meant there was a high risk of someone ending up dead.
Since Laxus was a member of the guild, Goku kept his output exactly 30% above whatever Laxus threw at him. Every time Laxus powered up, Goku nudged his own ceiling a little higher.
"It's time to end this!"
Sensing Laxus had hit his limit, Goku thrust out a palm. Scores of Ki-dragons erupted from his hand, swarming and overwhelming Laxus in a golden blur.
When the dust settled, Laxus was lying on the ground, staring blankly at the sky, his worldview shattered.
"Laxus, it's time to wake up," Makarov sighed, his face etched with pained concern for his grandson.
Laxus forced himself into a sitting position, gritting his teeth until they nearly cracked.
"I... I haven't lost yet!"
He slammed his palms together. A blinding light ignited between them, and a gargantuan Magic Seal manifested in the sky, large enough to shroud the entire town of Magnolia.
"Laxus! What are you doing!?"
Makarov's face went pale with terror. He knew that spell. He knew it better than anyone.
"Don't worry, Old Man. I won't kill him... but I cannot lose!" Laxus bellowed at the top of his lungs:
"FAIRY LAW!"
Indeed, he was invoking the legendary Super Magic created by the First Master—one of the Three Great Magics of Fairy Tail.