It's been a few months since the attack at the Guild Masters' meeting. The Fallen had gone quiet since then, no large-scale attacks, no major movements. But that didn't mean they had disappeared. There were still skirmishes. Small encounters with their members and dark guilds aligned with them.
Dark guilds aligned with them continued to act in the shadows, spreading chaos where they could. One disturbing pattern had emerged in the past months, kidnappings.
It became more rampant.
People were going missing. Mages, civilians, even entire caravans would vanish without a trace. Some were taken in isolated villages, others right in the middle of towns. Whoever was behind it moved carefully, covering their tracks, making it nearly impossible to pinpoint their hideouts.
But they weren't unstoppable.
The alliance between the legal guilds had proven effective. Thanks to our combined efforts, several attempted kidnappings had been foiled, and a few of the victims had even been rescued. However, for every success, there were more incidents slipping through our grasp.
I had taken part in many of these operations, hunting down the groups responsible. They weren't strong, not to me, at least, but their tactics were frustrating. They worked in secrecy, using hostages as shields, retreating the moment things turned against them.
One thing was clear though they were stalling for something.
Or someone.
After seeing my strength firsthand, Master Makarov had given me permission to take on dark guild-hunting jobs. Normally, those were reserved for high-ranking mages, S-Class or specialized teams, but considering I had completely destroyed one of The Fallen's stronger members, Makarov had little reason to doubt I could handle it alone.
And he was right.
These dark guilds… they weren't a challenge.
It almost felt unfair.
A few months ago, I might've hesitated, held back to see what they were capable of, given them a chance to impress me and for me to grow, but after fighting Varik, I knew better. There was no reason to entertain these lesser enemies. They were obstacles, nothing more.
I had been methodical, relentless. Whenever I took a job, I finished it quickly. No drawn-out battles, no unnecessary risks. Find them, overpower them, and wipe them out.
Still, there was something missing.
Every fight was the same. I dominated the battlefield, ended the fights within moments, and walked away without a scratch.
It was starting to bore me.
Time had changed me.
Back when I first arrived in this world, I had held back. I had doubted myself, unsure of how my abilities would compare to the mages of Earthland. I had tested the waters, played along with the rules of this world, limiting myself to avoid unnecessary attention.
But that hesitation was gone.
After the battle at the Guild Masters' meeting, after Varik, I had come to a realization.
I was powerful.
Not just strong. Not just skilled. Powerful.
I had been holding myself back out of habit, acting as though I needed to prove myself, as though I needed to grow stronger. But the truth was, I was already beyond what most mages in this world could comprehend. My abilities weren't just strong, they were absolute.
And now, I've embraced that.
Maybe that was why I had begun experimenting.
Instead of ending fights instantly, I gave myself conditions. Only using Chastiefol in certain forms, restricting myself to pure hand-to-hand combat, refusing to use my armor's abilities, and even practicing different fighting styles just to see how I adapted.
It wasn't enough.
I wanted more.
I wanted something new, something that would push me further.
That was why I had started to explore Earthland's magic more seriously.
At first, I only needed an explanation for my abilities, which was why I introduced my "magic" as the Arc of Embodiment, a Lost Magic.
It happened a few months ago, after a mission.
Flashback
I was sitting in Makarov's office, across from the old man as he sipped his tea. He had called me in to discuss my recent missions, but the conversation quickly shifted.
"Aiden," Makarov began, placing his cup down, "I've been meaning to ask… your magic. It's not Requip, is it?"
I leaned back in my chair. "No. Not really."
He narrowed his eyes. "Then what is it?"
I had been expecting this. People had been assuming I used some advanced form of Requip Magic, summoning weapons and armor at will. It made sense, there were mages in Fiore with similar abilities. But that wasn't how my power worked at all.
I exhaled and gave him the answer I had prepared.
"It's called Arc of Embodiment, a Lost Magic."
Makarov's expression didn't change, but I could tell he was intrigued. "Lost Magic, huh?"
I nodded. "It lets me manifest whatever I imagine into reality. Weapons, armor, tools… even buildings if I wanted."
It wasn't a complete lie. If anything, it was the best way to describe my power in a way that fit within Earthland's understanding of magic. I needed a reasonable explanation, something that wouldn't make people suspicious.
Makarov stroked his beard. "Arc of Embodiment… I've read about it before. It's an extremely rare magic, but I've never seen anyone use it to the extent you do."
I smirked. "Guess I'm just talented."
Makarov gave me a long look, then sighed. "You really are something else, kid."
I shrugged. "I try."
Present
That conversation had settled it. From that point on, anyone who asked would know my magic as Arc of Embodiment. A rare and powerful Lost Magic, one that explained my abilities without raising too many eyebrows.
But the more I thought about it, the more interested I became in real Earthland magic.
Magic here wasn't just a source of power, it was an expression of the mage using it.
And that fascinated me.
The idea that magic could grow, evolve, and become something unique to its wielder was something I had never considered before. I had power, but it was perfect. It couldn't change. It didn't adapt or evolve like Earthland's magic. It was simply absolute.
But if I could find a way to combine that absoluteness with the flexibility of Earthland magic…
The possibilities were endless.
Of course, I still had to figure out how.
My regeneration, my weapons, my armor, everything I used was at its peak, its maximum potential. But magic here was different. It wasn't about perfection. It was about progression. Growth.
Could I take that concept and apply it to myself?
That was my next goal.
For now, though, I had another job to finish.
I tightened my grip on Chastiefol as I approached the abandoned fortress ahead.
Another dark guild. Another hunt.
Let's see if they were at least a little interesting.
—
Fairy Tail Guildhall
The guild hall was as lively as ever. Laughter, shouting, and the occasional crash filled the air, but I had long gotten used to the chaos. It was home, after all.
I leaned against the counter, watching as Laxus sat across from me, idly kicking his legs. He was still a kid, but there was something about the way he carried himself. Maybe it was because of Ivan, maybe it was just his nature, but he had that same intensity in his eyes that I did. He wanted to be strong. No, more than that. He wanted to be the strongest.
"You think Gildarts is gonna come back soon?" Laxus asked, resting his chin on his palm.
Makarov, sitting beside him with his usual mug of beer, sighed. "Not for a while. You know how he is. Went off on another one of his ridiculous quests. Three years, he said."
Laxus frowned. "Tch. Three years is too long."
I chuckled. "That's Gildarts for you. The guy does things his own way."
Makarov took a sip of his drink before glancing at me. "Speaking of which, I hear you've been doing pretty well on your own lately. Taking on dark guilds, handling missions even S-Class mages would struggle with." He smirked. "Starting to think I should've just given you that promotion already."
I grinned. "Nah, no need to rush it."
"Seriously though," Makarov continued, setting his mug down. "You've grown a lot since you first got here. And not just in strength."
It was true. I could feel it myself. The way I carried myself now, the way I fought, it was different from before. I used to second-guess things, used to hold back. But after everything, after seeing what I was capable of, I knew.
I was strong.
And I wasn't afraid to show it anymore.
But there was still more to do. I glanced at Laxus, the kid still looking annoyed about Gildarts being gone. That's when I remembered the plan I had in mind.
I was going to give him something. Something that would help him reach heights even he couldn't imagine yet.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
A Logia fruit, one of the most powerful abilities in the world of One Piece. Perfect for someone like Laxus. Along with that, I had something else. The Lightning Dragon God Lacrima, far more potent than the one Ivan had given him. If he wanted to be strong, I was going to make sure he had everything he needed. But not yet. He was still too young. A few more years, and when the time was right, I'd hand them to him myself.
Laxus sighed, slumping against the counter. "I should be out there too, y'know. I could handle some of those missions you're taking."
I smirked. "Oh yeah? You sure about that, short stuff?"
He glared at me. "Don't call me that!"
I chuckled, ruffling his spiky blond hair just to annoy him. "Relax, kid. You'll get your time to shine."
"Don't treat me like a kid!" he huffed, swatting my hand away.
"Then stop acting like one," I shot back with a grin.
He grumbled something under his breath, but I could tell he wasn't actually mad. In truth, I had started looking after Laxus like a little brother. It wasn't something I planned, it just happened over time.
At first, he was just some brat with a lot of potential, but after spending so much time together, training together, even just hanging out at the guild, he started to grow on me. And I could tell he looked up to me too, even if he'd never admit it.
One time, after a particularly long mission, I returned to the guild exhausted, covered in scratches and dirt. Laxus had been waiting near the entrance.
"Took you long enough," he said, arms crossed.
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, stretching. "Missed me or something?"
"As if," he scoffed. Then, after a pause, he muttered, "But… y'know… I figured you'd be fine. Since you're strong and all."
I blinked at him before grinning. "Aw, you do care."
"Shut up!" he snapped, his face turning red as he stormed off.
I laughed. The kid was too easy to mess with.
Back in the present, Alma approached, sliding onto the seat next to me, her sharp eyes scanning me with amusement. "You're not causing trouble, are you?"
I smirked. "Me? Never."
Laxus rolled his eyes. "He totally is."
Alma chuckled, crossing her arms. "I figured."
She wasn't a mage, but she didn't need magic to hold her own in a conversation. Alma was sharp, quick-witted, and always knew exactly what to say to get under my skin. And somehow, over time, we'd gotten closer.
I still remembered when it started.
Flashback
It was late one evening after a mission, and I had been sitting outside the guild hall, lost in thought. That's when Alma showed up, plopping down beside me without a word.
"You look deep in thought," she finally said after a moment.
I shrugged. "Just thinking about everything. Getting stronger, figuring out what's next."
She gave me a side glance. "You're already strong, though."
"Not strong enough."
Alma was quiet for a while before finally speaking. "You know, it's okay to just enjoy the moment sometimes."
I looked at her, and for the first time, I saw something different in her expression. Something softer.
"You're always so focused on what's next," she continued. "But what about now?"
That conversation stuck with me. And ever since then, I found myself looking for her more, talking with her more.
She was different. And I liked that.
End Flashback
Alma waved a hand in front of my face. "Hey. You okay?"
I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts. "Yeah. Just thinking."
She raised an eyebrow. "That's dangerous for you."
I smirked. "Wow. Hurtful."
She grinned. "You'll live."
Makarov chuckled, watching the exchange with amusement. "You two sure do get along."
Laxus made a face. "Gross."
Alma laughed, nudging my arm. "Well, as fun as this is, I should probably get going."
"Leaving already?" I asked.
She shrugged. "I have things to do. Unlike you, I actually have responsibilities."
I placed a hand over my heart in mock offense. "You wound me."
She rolled her eyes before standing up. But before she left, she leaned in just slightly, her voice dropping so only I could hear.
"Try not to miss me too much."
Then she was gone, leaving me sitting there with a smirk on my face.
Makarov laughed. "You've got it bad, don't you?"
I exhaled. "Yeah… I think I do."
Laxus groaned. "Can we talk about something else now?"
I chuckled, ruffling his hair despite his protests.
Things were changing. I was getting stronger, growing closer to the people around me.
And I had no intention of stopping anytime soon.
-----
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