Juvia and Lisanna are pitted against Erza, while Elfman and Evergreen are pitted against Mirajane. Meanwhile, Natsu enthusiastically fights Gildarts, with a series of flashbacks detailing how Natsu had never once been able to defeat him since childhood.

Natsu attacks the black-haired youth to no effect, causing the youth to despair that Natsu is not strong enough to defeat him. The youth unleashes another wave of deadly magic against Natsu and disappears, but Natsu is protected from the attack by his scarf, which turns black.