The bright lights of Korakuen Hall beat down on the pinkette.

The sound of the crowd echoed in his ears.

The walk to the ring was always the same for Natsu Dragneel. This time though, there was a little something different. Natsu was accompanied by cornermen, Makarov and Elfman. He'd be relying on them from now on, it was strange feeling for the pinkette.

He'd been alone since his debut match, suddenly that had changed. The older men led Natsu to the ring, he shadow boxed behind them silently.

"Get 'im, Salamander-san!"

"Give us another KO!"

"We'll cheer for you!"

Natsu smirked, he had become a crowd favorite after his last few fights. His flashy knockouts often wow'd the onlookers. Ah, he was getting more and more fired up now. That heat was starting to melt away any nervousness he had.

That is right, he promised to kick this guy's ass. He had some bottled up rage that he couldn't wait to rip the lid off of! Finally the Salamander stepped through the ropes into the boxing ring.

The tall lanky Grim Reaper was already waiting across the ring. The ring announcer began introducing the competitors, Natsu was fidgeting impatiently the whole time. It was Natsu Dragneel with his record of three wins, three KO's, versus Erigor with a record of eight wins, five KO's, and one loss.

They were ordered to the center of the ring, the referee wanted to go over the rules one last time. Natsu was only focus on Erigor though... He was blocking out everything and everyone now. The taller man showed no sign of fear, instead a smug smile remained on his face. The same insincere smile he had at the weigh-in.

Then slowly his eyes wandered away from Natsu. Curiosity got the better of the rookie, he glanced over to see what his opponent was staring at. The ring girl? She was circling the apron holding up the round one sign.

Thinking about women at a time like this... Did he think Natsu was some sort of joke?! The pinkette was about to speak up when Erigor started moving toward the girl leaving Natsu in the center with the referee.

"Hey, you." Erigor licked his lips grabbing the girl by the wrist. "What are you doing after this~?"

The next moment he had to release the girl, he did this to avoid being punched. Natsu had charged the man and threw a hook. Natsu would have kept going after him too, Elfman grabbed the smaller rookie to stop that from happening.

"Let me go!" Natsu shouted while struggling against Elfman's massive arms. "That goddamn pervert! Don't look passed me!"

"The bell hasn't rung yet!" Elfman shouted back at the Salamander. Natsu still showed no signs that he was willing to stop... That was until someone smacked him in the face hard.

"Brat!" Makarov's voice was suddenly deep and threatening. His small hand print was bright red on Natsu's cheek. "Are you seriously going to throw this match away on a disqualification? After all the hell you went through to get here?! Are you trying to make fools out of Fairy Tail?!"

"N-No... I-."

Smack! "Get-," Smack! "Yourself," Smack! "Together!"

Elfman's arms finally released the boiling rookie, Natsu stood there for a second. He grimaced rubbing his cheek before glancing over at the stunned silent ring girl. She was blonde, chocolate brown eyes welled up with tears, bruising clear on her pale wrist.

Their eyes met for a second... Natsu said something, she almost didn't catch it over the roar of the excited fans.

Rolling his shoulder Natsu started back to his corner. How embarrassing... He wasn't a schoolyard punk picking fights on the playground anymore, he was a boxer! Natsu shut his eyes calming himself down.

"Sorry, old man." Natsu mumbled waiting for the bell... Almost time, it was almost time. "I'm okay now."

The bell finally sounded starting the first round of this four round bout!

Erigor was expecting the rookie with the girly hair to run out of his corner like a bat out of hell. His game plan going in was to take advantage of his opponents quick temper and reckless attitude. His eyes widened when he saw Natsu take a proper stance and slowly step out of his corner.

N-No way...

He's never done this! Erigor had watched all of the rookie's three fights, he had never once done something like this! So why? Erigor directed a glare to his opponent's cornermen. Was that it, all because he joined a worthless C-class gym?

That couldn't be it... He was still weak from weigh management! Ah, that was it, that had to be it. The twerp could hardly walk at the weigh-in.

Erigor directed his attention back in front of him... Natsu had already rushed in, taking advantage of the confused Erigor! The taller boxer hardly had time to react, dammit spacing out like that.

He is going to hit me! Block!

Erigor put up his slender arms to block the punch coming from below him-... "AH! Erigor's head is blown back!" The commentator declared loudly. How? Erigor was positive he blocked that punch.

No, he did block it, the pain in his arms was the evidence. The hell kind of punch was that? It was like a cannonball, it blew his whole guard back! The Grim Reaper had to get away from the Salamander right now. If not he was going to be knocked out.

Luckily, Natsu Dragneel's footwork was far below average. Erigor went to shake the other boxer stepping off to the left then dashing to the right... Natsu kept up staying right beside him.

For the first time fear flashed in Erigor's eyes.

Compared to Gray's footwork, this guy is a clown!

Erigor's guard was blown away by a left hook, he dipped his head away from a right straight. This was risky business, a clean hit would floor him. Erigor was panicking, this was going to be it. He was trapped against the ropes with nowhere to go.

The guard was blown away one more time, Natsu followed up with a right hook. This was going to hit! The taller man was going to be knocked out shortly after the start of the first round.

"He fell!" The announcer commented loudly.

Erigor fell yet... Natsu didn't hit him at all. "Slip!" The referee declared out loud after a brief pause. But that wasn't just any slip... Erigor looked up at Natsu from the mat, a smirk curving his lips. He fell on purpose to avoid that right hook.

How low was Erigor willing to go? Natsu growled being made to back up to give his opponent some room to stand back up. "Box!" Natsu pounced forward one more time not wanting this opportunity to go to waste.

THUD!

"Natsu's head is blown back this time!"

The rookie had run right into a straight left, he was too worked up again. The pinkette had forgotten the other man had more than a few inches of reach on him. Despite that Natsu lunged forward again, seemingly unfazed.

Erigor gritted his teeth, surprised by the velocity of the next punch Natsu threw. The pinkette was too quick for the Grim Reaper. The rookie kept surprising the taller man more and more.

When did he get this good? Was the only thought that kept speeding through Erigor's mind. Natsu was a complete amateur in his last fight, that was only a month ago! How did this spitfire manage to level up so much in that time? This was raw potential... Joining a real gym was only starting to scratch the surface of it.

By the way the first round was going it was easy to see who the superior boxer was. Erigor was used to being worst than his opponent though... He had learned in his debut match that raw potential and talent breaks under pressure... So what if his pressure was a little excessive?

This was a contact sport!

"Elbow!"

"Tsk... Slimy bastard." Natsu growled. He was only grazed by Erigor's pointy elbow but it was enough to cut his cheek. "That did it!" As eccentric as ever, Natsu raised his voice in the ring. Erigor wasn't paying attention to Natsu's voice...

Erigor was focused on the look in the rookie's eyes. He looked like an animal just released from a cage, this kid was monstrous! Sensing danger Erigor put up his guard again.

The next moment Natsu was pummeling him back into the ropes. It fell like his fists were made of cement, Erigor wasn't going to last much longer like this. Even though the rookie was only laying punches into his guard it hurt like hell, he'd be knocked out.

Natsu took a step back to throw his finishing blow-... He didn't get a chance, Erigor reached out pushing Natsu's chest. The pinkette fell back over Erigor's sweeping foot, then he was on the mat looking up at the taller man.

"Slip!" The referee exclaimed once more. Natsu glared up at the man looming above him, that was blatant tripping.

The young boxer realized something down on the mat however. Suddenly, Natsu was out of breath, gasping for air. What was going on with his body, he knew he had more stamina than this.

"Looks like that weight management is still doing a number on you." Erigor sighed looking relieved to get out of that tight spot.

Natsu scoffed pulling himself back to his feet. Erigor jumped on the attack this time, his long reach coming in handy. Natsu was still too out of breath to do anything, he held his sturdy guard up desperately.

He took Erigor's punches until the bell rang ending the first round. Disappointed Natsu walked back over to his corner, he sat on the seat Elfman prepared for him. Oh, yeah... People were waiting for him to come back now.

"Brat," Makarov chopped him on top of the head softly. "You made it back."

"What... else..." Natsu started to mutter between deep breaths. "Did you... Expect?" The pinkette managed a cocky grin then.

"You look like hell. We have to end this quickly..." Makarov informed his boxer firmly. "If this goes out of the second round... We'll lose."