Avalon cut through the sky, engines humming as we neared The Fallen's stronghold. Jagged cliffs stretched below, the fortress embedded in them radiating dark magic.
I stood near the helm, arms crossed, staring ahead. The guild was preparing—checking weapons, reviewing strategies. The air buzzed with tension.
Makarov traced a map. "Their forces are concentrated here and here," he pointed at two fortified positions. "The Alliance will handle the outer defenses. Our job is to break through and take out their leaders."
"They'll clear the perimeter, keep reinforcements from swarming us. We're the main force."
Macao frowned.. "So we're the tip of the spear."
"Exactly," Makarov said. "Once we break through, Jura and the others will move in to secure the inside. If things go well, we can crush their leadership before they have time to regroup."
Wakaba leaned on the railing. "So when do we start smashing things?"
"Soon," Makarov said. "No reckless charges." He eyed me.
I grinned. "Who, me? Never."
Makarov sighed. "I don't believe you."
"I don't believe you either," a voice chimed in my head.
I smirked. "Come on, NIMO. Have a little faith."
A few weeks ago, I summoned an Omnitool, which I named NIMO, to give me an edge. It could shift into anything I needed, with an AI that could think, adapt, and communicate with me. Right now, it looked like a sleek metallic bracelet on my wrist, glowing faintly.
"Faith is for those who act rationally," NIMO quipped. "You, on the other hand, routinely defy logic and self-preservation."
Due to my insane regeneration, let's just say that I've become more reckless than before.
"That's what makes me special," I muttered.
Macao glanced at me. "You talking to yourself now?"
"Nah," I said, lifting my wrist. "Meet NIMO. My personal Omnitool. Think of it like a really smart, slightly annoying assistant that lives in my soul."
"Correction," NIMO said through a small projected interface. "I am an advanced AI designed to enhance Aiden's capabilities. Also, I am not annoying, I am efficient."
Wakaba whistled. "Omnitool, huh? Never heard of one."
"It's one of a kind," I said. "NIMO can scan enemies, analyze magic, store information, even help me craft stuff mid-battle. Basically, a second brain."
"A far superior brain," NIMO corrected.
I rolled my eyes. "See?"
Macao scoffed. "So you got a talking bracelet. Big deal."
I smirked. "Oh, NIMO's much more than that. Watch this."
I tapped the bracelet, and it shifted instantly. The metal unraveled, forming a floating holographic interface before reshaping into a sleek gauntlet on my right arm, glowing blue circuits running along the surface.
"Battle mode," I said. "I can turn this into a sword, a shield, even a gun."
"Or," NIMO cut in, "Though I prefer if you use me strategically instead of swinging me around like a blunt instrument."
"Where's the fun in that?"
Before NIMO could argue, an alert flashed on its interface.
"Enemy scouts detected. Long-range attacks incoming."
I turned toward the deck. "Looks like the welcoming party's here."
Makarov nodded. "Everyone, prepare for battle!"
The first wave of dark mages appeared below, launching fire and lightning at Avalon.
"Brace for impact!" someone shouted.
The ship rocked as shields absorbed the first few hits. Cannons along the hull fired back.
Wakaba grinned. "Finally!"
"Alright," I said, rolling my shoulders. "Time to drop in."
"I suggest not jumping in headfirst without a plan," NIMO said.
I smirked. "Relax, I have a plan."
"I highly doubt that."
"See, that's the problem, NIMO. No trust."
"Trust is earned through competent decision-making."
Wakaba snorted. "Your magic gadget's got a mouth."
"More like a personality," I corrected.
"I do much more than that," NIMO said. "I analyze combat patterns, store vast amounts of data, and compensate for your occasional lapses in judgment."
"Which is a nice way of saying it tells me when I'm being dumb," I admitted.
Macao raised a brow. "And you let it talk to you like that?"
"It's oddly comforting," I admitted, before focusing back on the battlefield. "Alright, here's the plan."
I pointed at a cluster of enemy mages near the front lines. "Our job is to break their formation. If we hit them hard and fast, they'll panic. The Alliance will push in from the east while we distract them head-on."
Makarov nodded. "The Rune Knights and Lamia Scale will cover the flanks. Blue Pegasus will handle aerial support."
"And us?" Wakaba asked.
I grinned. "We cause chaos."
The ship rocked again as another blast struck the shields. I grabbed onto the railing for balance, but the impact nearly knocked Wakaba off his feet.
"Alright, screw this," Macao said, already hopping onto the edge of the ship. "Are we going or what?"
"You're just excited to show off," I muttered.
"Like you aren't?"
I grinned. "Fair."
With a flick of my wrist, Rebellion appeared in my grip. The weight of the greatsword felt familiar—comforting, even. I pulled Ebony & Ivory from their holsters next, spinning them before giving NIMO a glance.
"Ready?" I asked.
"My calculations suggest you are about to do something reckless," NIMO replied. "Again."
I smirked. "Damn right."
Before NIMO could list all the ways I might die, I kicked off the railing and dove straight down.
At my signal, the Avalon's hatches opened, and Fairy Tail leaped into the fray.
Macao and Wakaba followed suit, laughing like maniacs as we freefell toward the battlefield below. The enemy mages barely had time to react before we landed.
Or rather, before I crashed directly onto one poor bastard's head.
There was a crunch as the guy's face met the dirt.
"Oof," I muttered, stepping off his unconscious body. "Sorry, man. Bad luck."
"Subtle," Macao said, landing beside me.
"Wasn't aiming for stealth."
The enemy forces turned, realizing we had just dropped out of the sky like lunatics. I grinned and raised Ebony & Ivory, cracking my neck as I took aim.
"Alright, who's first?"
That was apparently their cue to all charge at once.
Perfect.
I opened fire, bullets laced with magic tearing through the front line. The moment someone got too close, Rebellion was there to greet them, cutting through weapons and armor like butter.
Macao and Wakaba were tearing through enemies on their own, but I had my own fun. A guy tried to hit me with a fire spell—I kicked him in the face before he could finish casting. Another swung a hammer at me, but I slid under it, shot him in the knee, then used his falling body as a platform to flip over three more attackers.
"Style points: SSS," NIMO remarked.
"You know it!" I said, landing smoothly.
One guy, a big, armored brute with a war axe, let out a roar and charged straight at me.
"Oh boy," I muttered.
Rather than dodge, I holstered my guns and held out my arms like I was waiting for a hug. The brute hesitated, confused.
"What...?"
"You want a hug, man?" I asked. "Cause you're running at me like you really need one."
He snarled and swung.
I caught the handle of his axe with my bare hand, stopping it mid-swing. His eyes went wide.
"Oh no," he whispered.
"Oh yes," I replied, before headbutting him so hard he crumpled on the spot.
I dusted off my hands. "Some people just need affection."
Macao snorted. "Yeah, sure. That was affection."
"Was to me."
The fight raged on, but we were winning, fast. More Fairy Tail members landed, overwhelming the enemy with sheer chaos.
"Too easy," I muttered.
Then I felt it.
A cold piercing pain through my back.
I looked down.
A sword.
Shoved clean through my stomach.
For a second, everything went quiet.
Then the pain hit.
"HOLY SH—"
I staggered forward, nearly dropping Rebellion. The enemy swordsman behind me chuckled, twisting the blade slightly. "Got you."
I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening. "Oh yeah?"
With a surge of adrenaline, I whirled around, yanking the sword out of me in the process and slamming my fist into his face. He flew back, skidding across the deck.
"Aiden!" Macao shouted from the ship, watching the whole thing.
Wakaba's cigarette nearly fell from his mouth. "Oh crap, he got stabbed!"
"I'm aware!" I snapped.
The swordsman smirked, thinking he had me—until he noticed.
The wound was already sealing.
My regeneration kicked in, the torn flesh knitting itself back together instantly. With a wet shhhk, the sword wound closed up like it never happened.
The enemy's smirk disappeared.
"What... what the hell?" he stammered.
I cracked my neck, rolling my shoulders. "Oh, don't get me wrong—it still hurt like hell."
I grabbed Rebellion, eyes narrowing. "But now I'm pissed."
The guy turned pale. "Wait, wait, let's talk about—"
I kicked him so hard he flew through two walls.
Wakaba whistled. "Damn."
Macao just gawked at me. "So... you just shrug off wounds now? That's a thing?"
"Yup," I muttered, stretching. "Doesn't mean I enjoy it, though."
"Yeah, well, try not to make a habit out of getting stabbed," Wakaba said. "I can only handle so much heart attack in one day."
NIMO hovered beside me, scanning me with a faint hum. "Regeneration rate: Unparalleled. Pain reception: Unchanged. Conclusion: You still feel everything."
"Thanks for that, doc," I muttered. "Appreciate the analysis."
Macao shook his head. "Next time, how about you just dodge?"
The enemy commander—who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else—was shouting desperate orders when I decided to pay him a visit.
I kicked off the ground, shot myself forward midair with gunfire recoil, and landed directly in front of him.
"Hey," I said casually, spinning my guns on my fingers.
He blinked. "Wh—"
I punched him in the face.
Hard.
The guy flipped over backward and hit the ground like a sack of bricks.
The remaining enemy forces hesitated. One guy literally dropped his sword and just sat down. "Yeah, nope. I'm out."
The others quickly followed his lead.
I turned to Macao and Wakaba. "That was easy."
"Because you fight like a maniac," Wakaba muttered.
"Exactly."
NIMO hovered beside me. "Combat efficiency: Satisfactory. Recklessness level: Unacceptable."
I grinned. "You love it."
"That is an inaccurate statement."
The battle was ours. Now it was time to regroup and push forward.
"Alright, people," I called out. "Let's move! The war's not over yet!"
Fairy Tail roared in victory as we pressed on.
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I'll be reposting the revised versions of Chapters 1 to 7 along with a character profile chapter. Feel free to check them out!
I posted this early as I might not be able to post it tomorrow