Kageyama Ren quietly watched the members of the guild as he collected his high-tier mission reward. To be honest, the amount stunned him. He hadn't expected that simply joining Fairy Tail would immediately grant him a reward of one hundred million in funds.
Staring at the updated amount in his funds tab, Ren fell into deep thought. He now had two clear paths in front of him.
The first option: raise most of his core abilities to level 8.
The second: boost his magic power directly to level 9.
If he pushed his magic to level 9, his magical strength would ascend to a superhuman tier—on par with the lower three of the Four Gods of Ishgar.
After some brief contemplation, Ren decided to upgrade the rest of his skills to level 8 first. After all, having magic at level 9 but lacking the combat capabilities to match it would be a waste.
Take Warrod, for instance, praised as the continent's number one tree planter. He had immense magical reserves, but lacked offensive spells that matched his magic level. A perfect example of raw power with no combat application.
Having made his decision...
Ren's character panel refreshed instantly:
Character: Kageyama Ren
Physique: Special Body Constitution (Able to consume multiple Devil Fruits)
Haki:
Observation Haki: LV8 (+)
Armament Haki: LV8 (+)
Conqueror's Haki: LV8 (+)
Devil Fruits:
Zoan-type, Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Type: Azure Dragon Form – LV8 (+)
Paramecia-type, Weight-Weight Fruit – LV8 (+)
Logia-type, Glint-Glint Fruit – LV8 (+)
Martial Skills:
Swordsmanship: LV8 (+)
Rokushiki: LV8 (+)
Magic:
Magic Power: LV8 (+)
Enchantment Magic: LV8 (+)
Disassembly Magic: LV8 (+)
Resistances:
Poison Resistance: LV7 (+)
Illusion Resistance: LV7 (+)
Elemental Resistance: LV7 (+)
Time Resistance: LV7 (+)
Spatial Resistance: LV6 (+)
Funds: 57,000,000
Now, all of Ren's abilities, except resistances had reached level 8. He could feel the power flowing through him, the sensation of growing stronger coursing throughout his body.
"Ren, I'll leave Erza with you. I'm going to find a place to stay."
Just as Ren finished allocating his stats, Irene announced her departure. She preferred solitude and wasn't fond of rowdy places like this lively guild.
"Alright. Leave Erza to me."
Ren nodded slightly at her.
He understood well after living alone for over four centuries, Irene wasn't used to the crowded lives of humans anymore.
"Good."
With Ren's confirmation, Irene vanished from the guild in a flash, taking Illya, Ian, and Eden with her.
Not long after Irene left, trouble came knocking.
Erza, determined to befriend people her age, began exploring the guild and eventually laid eyes on a blond-haired boy who looked about thirteen or fourteen.
With graceful politeness, she walked up to him and smiled. "Hi! I'm Erza Belserion. I joined Fairy Tail today. May I know your name?"
"Tch."
The boy had been dazing off, clearly lost in thought. Hearing her voice, he turned and glanced at Erza with a bored expression. His eyes narrowed, full of distaste, and he sharply turned his head away, clearly not interested in talking.
Erza's smile froze.
She circled around to face him again, slapped the table he was sitting at, and asked sternly, "Hey! Didn't your family teach you to respond politely when someone greets you?"
"Spare me the chatter! I don't have time to deal with weak little brats like you."
The boy scowled. He clearly hated kids, especially weak ones.
"Li-Little brat?!"
Veins bulged slightly on Erza's forehead. Her expression darkened into a cold smirk. "Oh? You sure talk big for a blond punk."
"Bl-Blond punk?!"
The boy's smug attitude immediately crumbled. Her insult hit him straight in the pride.
"You trying to start a fight, brat?"
He stood up, towering over her.
"Sure, bring it on! I'm not scared of you, you little thug!"
Erza's eyes flared with fury. She stood her ground without hesitation.
"Oh? So the new recruit's going after Laxus?"
"Looks like they're about to throw hands…"
"Should we…?"
"Fight! Fight!"
"Fight!"
The surrounding drunken mages, instead of stepping in to break things up, all began to cheer excitedly.
Ren stayed silent.
He had briefly worried that raising Erza too gently might make it hard for her to fit into a guild like Fairy Tail. But seeing her now, he realized he'd worried for nothing. Erza belonged here. The moment she joined Fairy Tail, she had instantly adjusted to its chaotic and fiery rhythm.
"Fight! Fight!"
Even Gildarts, seated at the bar, raised his beer with excitement and started chanting along with the others.
Ren looked around, deadpan.
This… this was supposed to be Fairy Tail's strongest mage?
He made a mental note, he would never become like these people.
"Brat, just because you're a girl doesn't mean I'll go easy on you."
With the tension rising, the blond boy's eyes sharpened. Lightning flickered faintly around him.
"I don't need any mercy from some wannabe blond delinquent."
Even at her age, Erza was already starting to show her queenly aura. The magic passed down to her by Irene surged powerfully around her.
"This magic…" The blond boy felt the pressure in the air and looked intrigued. His gaze changed slightly. In the next instant, his body turned into a bolt of lightning and struck toward Erza.
Perhaps because she was a girl, he still offered a warning mid-attack.
"Here I come!"
But Erza didn't flinch.
With a focused thought, every metallic object in the room trembled. In the next second, they flew to her, forming a massive electromagnetic iron wall right before her.
Boom!
His lightning strike smashed into the wall, but failed to penetrate it.
The force of his punch and the lightning wrapping around his fist were both completely nullified.
"What?!"
The blond boy hadn't expected someone her age to pull off such a defense. He looked stunned.
"There's an opening!"
Erza spotted it immediately.
She gripped a sword fashioned from the iron wall and slashed at him without hesitation.
"Ugh!"
The iron blade hit its mark, and the boy was sent flying.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa…"
"You've got to be kidding! Laxus actually got knocked down by someone his own age?!"
Everyone in the hall stared in disbelief.
After all, this wasn't just any blond kid.
This was Laxus Dreyar, grandson of the guildmaster, Makarov. Despite his young age, his strength already surpassed 99% of the mages in the guild. Many believed he was the most likely candidate to become the next S-Class mage after Gildarts.
And yet, this supposedly unstoppable force had just been flattened by a no-name little girl.
The guild hall fell into stunned silence… then broke into laughter.
Because, truthfully, the mages of Fairy Tail were all incorrigible thrill-seekers.
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!