(dub) 99 : Natsu Vs. Gildarts – Real

: It is a tool to understand one's own weaknesses.

Despite this milestone, Natsu’s spirit is tested when Gildarts decides to get serious. To show Natsu that raw power alone does not make an S-Class Mage, Gildarts releases his . The intensity is so overwhelming it causes the ground to shatter and fills Natsu with a paralyzing sense of dread. (Dub) 99 : Natsu Vs. Gildarts

From the moment the battle begins, the power gap is staggering. Natsu launches himself at Gildarts with his signature , only for Gildarts to stop it effortlessly with his bare hands. Throughout the early phase of the duel, Gildarts remains largely stationary, dodging and repelling Natsu’s most creative attacks without moving a single step. : It is a tool to understand one's own weaknesses

For the first time in the series, Natsu drops to his knees and surrenders, acknowledging a gap he cannot bridge through sheer willpower alone. Gildarts then delivers the core philosophy of the exam: The intensity is so overwhelming it causes the

A turning point occurs when Gildarts accidentally uses his (specifically Disassembly Magic) on Natsu. Instead of being obliterated, Natsu is split into dozens of tiny "mini-Natsus" . In a display of sheer determination, these small versions of the Dragon Slayer swarm Gildarts, refusing to yield despite their diminished size. The Break-Through Moment