"Are you okay Lucy?"

As Natsu and Homura were prepared to face off against Gajeel, Happy flew towards Lucy. With all of his might, he was trying to pry off the metal restraints. As Lucy's feet land on the ground, she looked towards Natsu and Homura.

"I've never seen them like this."

"Same here, but I can tell just from looking at them....they won't lose."

Suddenly Homura flew towards Gajeel at high speed. Just as he threw a punch at Gajeel, the Iron Dragon Slayer jumped over him and kicked him towards a wall. As Homura spun his body, he landed feet first as his landing caused the wall to break apart. As Homura glared at Gajeel, the dragon slayer held a hand towards his chest.

"Is he going to use that move against me again? But it didn't seem like he could do it freely. In that cas-"

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!!!!!"

While Gajeel was focused on Homura, Natsu engulfed his right fist in flames and punched Gajeel to towards the ceiling. As Gajeel was sent flying upwards, Homura flew after him. After flying past Gajeel, Homura clenched his right fist as he used the flames from his left hand to propel himself towards his foe. Before the Iron Dragon Slayer realized it, Homura slammed his fist onto his chest as he was sent crashing down.

"This is getting interesting!!!!! Iron Dragon's Club!!!!!"

Gajeel quickly transformed his right arm into an iron club that rushed towards Natsu at high speed. As Natsu caught the iron club in his arms, he noticed he was being pushed back. Seeing this, Homura flew towards Gajeel at high speeds. However, Gajeel merely smirked as he quickly retracted the his arm from Natsu and turned towards Homura.

"Iron Dragon's Sword!!!!!"

When Gajeel turned towards Homura, he turned his arm into a jagged blade with spikes along its edge. Soon the spikes began rotating at high speeds, making the blade function like a chainsaw as he swung the blade. Just as Gajeel swung the blade at Homura, he smirked as he saw blood dripping from the boy's chest. However, he knew that he didn't cut the boy deep enough for it to be extremely fatal.

"Just before my sword slashed him, he held his hands forward and launched his flames to propel himself backwards."

"He knew he couldn't sense me by magic, so he's relying on his keen sense of smell. Clever bastard. But he can't focus on just one of us for too long!!!!"

"Fire Dragon's Claw!!!!!"

Natsu ignited his foot with his fire as he proceeds to slam his foot onto Gajeel's head, with his flames increasing his kicking power. However, as Natsu's attack connected, Gajeel merely smirked as he kicked Natsu away from him. As Homura flew over to Natsu's side, the two of them glared at Gajeel.

"I think it's time we end this Salamander, Sawada!"

"We're just getting started, ya scrap-metal bastard? Isn't that right, Homura."

"Right. Since you had no problem hurting Lucy, surely you'll have no problem being burned to a crisp, Gajeel!!!!"

"Heh! Then try not to bore me too quickly!!!!!"

As Gajeel said this, he covered his body with steel iron scales. This dramatically increased his attack power while simultaneously increasing his defense. However, Natsu and Homura weren't afraid. As Homura stood next to Natsu, both of them held up theirs right arms as their hands were engulfed in flames.

"Are you ready Homura?"

"Yeah. I'm counting on you, Natsu!"

"Iron Dragon's Hard Fist!!!!"

While covered in his scales, Gajeel quickly dashed towards Natsu and punched his arm with enhanced punching power. As Natsu was pushed back, he saw a giant bruise on his arm from here Gajeel punched him. As Gajeel smirked, he quickly avoided some punches from Homura's flame coated fists.

"You'll join Salamander soon, Homura Sawada!!!!"

As Gajeel said this, he grabbed both of Homura's arms and slammed his own head against Homura's. Blood escaped from Homura's head while Gajeel's didn't have a dent in it. The Iron Dragon Slayer quickly turned around as he felt Natsu's magic power surging.

"Fire Dragon's....."

"Iron Dragon's......"

"...ROAR!!!!!!!!!"

After both taking a deep breath, Natsu and Gajeel both released a blast of their respective elements from their mouths. A breath attack of flames soon clashed with a tornado of steel. The wind from the collision of the attacks was so strong, one would feel as if they would be swept away.

"Looks like the difference between us is clear, Salamander."

"Really? If your steel really is that strong, then why does that burn from your previous fight with Homura even there. Besides...my flames aren't ordinary. Dragon flames can incinerate anything."

As Natsu said this, Gajeel held the right side of his face in pain. When he removed his right hand, he noticed something. Some of his scales were in his hand. He couldn't believe it. Once again, someone managed to break his scales. However, while this happened, Natsu smirked.

"Plus it looks like you've forgotten Gajeel......"

"....you're dealing with two of us!"

As Gajeel turned around, Homura struck his face with the back of his left hand coated in Dying Will Flames. Just as Gajeel was pushed back, Natsu engulfs his own fists in flames as he punched Gajeel back towards Homura. Seeing this, Homura followed Natsu's lead and launched a barrage of punches towards Gajeel and sent him flying back towards Natsu. Gajeel was caught in a barrage of continuous attacks. Just when he thought he was free from Natsu, Homura would instantly jump in to attack and vice versa.

"Happy, is this the first time Natsu and Homura fought together? Actually....this the first time i've ever seen Homura fight."

"Aye. This is the first time they've fought together. Yet they're so in sync, you'd think they've fought together on multiple occasions."

Lucy and Happy were surprised with what they saw. Natsu and Homura's teamwork was something to behold. However, they couldn't celebrate just yet. After all, the smile on Gajeel's face was terrible omen. As Lucy and Happy looked towards Gajeel, they saw him holding some iron that was part of some rubble of the destroyed area. After consuming the iron, Gajeel smirked as he felt his strength coming back.

"You bastards.....don't get so cocky!!!!!!"

"Natsu....are you at your limit?"

Natsu looked towards Homura as he said this. The Fire Dragon Slayer slowly nods his head towards him. Seeing this, Homura clenched his hands a few times. Soon he looked towards Natsu while he mumbled something.

"It looks like that practice wasn't useless.....dad......"

"?????"

"Natsu.....I think I have a way to beat Gajeel. The last time we fought, I left that burn on his chest. I thought that attack I pulled off was a fluke...but....I think I can pull it off. My intuition is screaming at me to do it."

As Natsu looked at Homura, he smiled. He never thought he'd see the day when he'd fight side-by-side with Homura. As he took a step forward, Natsu only had one thing to say to Homura. Little did he know that Homura felt the same way as they said one sentence at the same time.

"I'm counting on you, Brother!!!!!"

As Natsu lunged towards Gajeel, Homura ignited his X-Gloves with his Dying Will Flames. To be honest, he was scared. He couldn't afford to mess this up. As he looked at his flames, he remembered something his father told him.

"There's no shame in being weak. The shame is staying weak! Besides...so what if you can't use magic. One day, when you find something worth fighting for, find your own way to fight, Homura!!!!!"

"I thought your training back then was pointless, since I had no fire magic. But with my Dying Will Flames and that attack I did to Gajeel on that night....I think I can do it. I'll use it......the Iai Chop!"