Crocus.
The capital of the Kingdom of Fiore.
Sunlight spilled onto the glass of the domed buildings.
Makarov led Aether up the marble steps.
The meeting hall was on the third floor.
As they pushed open the heavy oak double doors, a wave of clamor washed over them.
“Yo, Makarov!
You actually didn’t bring that grandson of yours who strikes lightning everywhere?” A burly bald man walked over holding a wine glass; it was the Master of Four Hound Dogs, Godman.
Makarov snorted coldly and pulled Aether in front of him.
“Laxus is too reckless.
This is our guild’s newcomer, Aether.
Zero destruction rate on missions, and perfect reviews from every merchant caravan.” The hall fell silent for three seconds.
“Zero destruction rate?” A portly man wearing revealing clothes and heavy makeup drifted over; it was Bob, the Master of Blue Pegasus.
He pinched Aether’s shoulder.
“Fairy Tail actually managed to recruit a normal person?
This is big news.” Aether nodded politely.
He quietly took half a step back, avoiding Bob’s hand.
“The parfum of a man!” A short, stout man in a white suit suddenly darted out from behind Bob, striking an extremely contorted pose.
“Young man, your body radiates the parfum of reason and calm!
I am Ichiya of Blue Pegasus.
Would you like to join our guild?” Aether looked at that square face.
Paimon covered his eyes in mid-air.
“This person’s appearance is so…
impactful.” Aether felt the same way.
“Ichiya, don’t embarrass yourself,” Bob said, slapping his subordinate on the head.
“Makarov, stop your bragging.” An old woman approached in a wheelchair; it was Ooba Babasaama, the Master of Lamia Scale.
“What good is a zero destruction rate?
A Mage is judged by their strength.
Jura!” A tall young man stepped out from behind the crowd.
He was bald, with a resolute face, wearing simple monk’s robes.
Jura Neekis.
A future member of the Ten Wizard Saints.
Currently the ace of Lamia Scale.
Jura pressed his palms together and bowed slightly to Makarov, then looked at Aether.
“Hello.
I have heard that Fairy Tail recently gained a newcomer who uses multiple types of magic.
I am quite curious.” Aether sized up Jura.
At this time, Jura’s Magic Power was deep, and his stance was flawless.
“I heard you are also skilled at controlling rock.” Jura raised his right hand, and the marble fragments on the floor began to float.
“A spar, perhaps?” Makarov stroked his beard and stepped aside.
“Aether, go ahead.
Keep it friendly.” In the center of the meeting hall was a small indoor arena, surrounded by defensive barriers.
Aether and Jura stood in the center.
“Please, guide me.” Jura slammed his hands together.
Boom.
Three thick stone pillars erupted from the ground beneath Aether’s feet.
They moved extremely fast, accompanied by a dull whistling of wind.
Aether did not retreat.
He stomped his right foot heavily onto the ground.
“Geo.” A golden ripple spread out with Aether as the center.
The moment the three lunging stone pillars touched the ripple, they came to a sudden halt.
Jura frowned.
He felt his control over those three stone pillars being severed.
Aether raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Bang.
The three stone pillars shattered simultaneously, turning into a pile of rubble on the ground.
“resonate,” Aether said.
“Rock has a frequency.
As long as you find that frequency, you can dismantle it.” The entire hall erupted in an uproar.
Godman’s eyes widened.
“What magic did he just use?
No incantation, and no magic circle?” Makarov took a sip of wine, smiling without a word.
He actually didn’t understand it either, but that didn’t stop him from acting profound.
Jura’s gaze changed.
He cast aside his slight disdain and pressed both hands to the ground.
“Rock Iron Wall!” An incredibly thick stone wall rose from the ground, standing between the two of them.
Immediately after, Jura waved a single hand.
“Rock Iron Crush!” Dozens of hard rocks flew out from above the stone wall, hurtling toward Aether.
Aether watched the rocks flying across the sky.
He did not continue to use the Geo element.
He raised his left hand.
“Hydro.” A column of water soared into the sky and dispersed in mid-air, turning into a curtain of water.
The incoming rocks passed through the water curtain, their surfaces becoming coated with the Hydro element.
“Water can stop rocks?” Ichiya shook his head from the sidelines.
“This defies common sense.” The rocks penetrated the water curtain without slowing down, smashing toward Aether’s face.
Aether raised his right hand.
A golden light lit up at his fingertips.
“Geo.” The golden Geo element accurately struck the first water-soaked rock.
There was no explosion.
Instead, a blue diamond-shaped crystal instantly precipitated from the rock’s surface.
The crystal fell to the ground.
Aether stepped forward and picked up that blue crystal.
Hum.
A translucent blue shield instantly enveloped Aether’s entire body.
Bang bang bang bang!
The remaining rocks slammed into the blue shield.
Ripples spread across the shield’s surface, but it blocked every single attack.
Jura was stunned.
The wine glass in Bob’s hand tilted, spilling wine onto the carpet.
“What is that?” Ooba suddenly stood up.
“Water and rock combined to become a shield?” Aether stood within the shield, brushing the dust off his hands.
These were the rules of Teyvat.
When the Geo element comes into contact with Hydro, Pyro, Cryo, or Electro, it triggers a Crystalize reaction, generating a shield of the corresponding element.
In this world, no one had ever seen such a magic system.
“This is my Geo,” Aether said, looking at Jura.
“The Elemental Symphony.” Jura took a deep breath.
He pressed his palms together once more.
“I have learned much.
Now, I will use my full strength.” The Magic Power within Jura’s body suddenly exploded.
The entire arena floor began to vibrate violently.
A giant stone hand reached out from underground, grasping at Aether.
The hand’s size took up almost half the arena.
Magic Power suppression.
Aether knew his current total Magic Power could definitely not block this strike.
No matter how rich the experience of Bennett and Zhongli was, this body’s Magic Power reserves were still just those of a newcomer.
He dispelled the shield and crossed his hands in front of his chest.
“Pyro!” “Electro!” Fire in his left hand, lightning in his right.
Aether slammed his hands together.
Fire and lightning intertwined.
Overloaded.
Boom!
A violent explosion erupted between Aether and the stone hand.
The shockwave blasted a hole through the massive rock hand.
Using the counter-force of the explosion, Aether slid back over a dozen meters, stopping steadily at the edge of the barrier.
The rock hand stopped in mid-air.
Jura withdrew his magic.
“I forfeit.” Aether lowered his hands, his breathing a bit ragged.
“My Magic Power is exhausted.” The entire hall was deathly silent.
No one mocked Aether for forfeiting.
Godman, Bob, Ooba—the gazes of all the Masters were fixed intently on Aether.
A newcomer who had joined a guild only a few months ago had used an unheard-of magic system to block Jura’s full-strength strike.
He had even used an explosion of fire and lightning to retreat unscathed.
Jura walked up to Aether and extended his hand.
“You are strong.” Jura’s expression was solemn.
“Your Geo magic has shown me a completely new direction.
It is not just simple defense and attack; it is creation.” Aether shook Jura’s hand.
“You flatter me.
Your Magic Power is very solid.” Outside the arena, Makarov’s smile was so wide his mustache curled up.
He strode over and slapped Aether on the back.
“How about it, everyone?
Our Fairy Tail has talented people with brains too!” Ooba snorted and sat back in her wheelchair.
“Consider yourselves lucky.
Jura, let’s go.” Ichiya leaned in and handed Aether a business card.
“Young man, if you ever find that barbaric guild unbearable, the doors of Blue Pegasus are always open to you.” Aether accepted the card.
He did not refuse.
The meeting ended.
On the train ride back.
Makarov was tipsy and slumped in his seat, snoring loudly.
Aether looked out the window at the night scenery.
Paimon floated out and sat on the table.
“You really stole the show today.” Paimon bit his finger.
“That guy Jura has so much more Magic Power than you.” “Yeah,” Aether nodded.
“In a head-on clash, I wouldn’t last three moves.
I can only rely on elemental reactions to get by.” Aether toyed with the card Ichiya had given him, his mind racing with calculations.
Fairy Tail would face many troubles in the future.
Phantom Lord, Oración Seis, Grimoire Heart.
Not to mention that after destructive types like Natsu and Gray join, the guild’s reputation will plummet, and the compensation fees will become astronomical.
He couldn’t solve the guild’s financial crisis on his own.
He needed allies.
He needed connections.
Showing his hand today in Crocus was just the first step.
He wanted to take advantage of these years before the plot officially began to travel through the major guilds of the Kingdom of Fiore.
He would take on joint missions, build up friendship, and make sure everyone got used to his professionalism and efficiency, so that Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, and Four Hound Dogs would all owe him favors.
In the future, when Fairy Tail caused trouble, these people would at least not kick them while they were down, and might even help clean up the mess.
“Paimon.” “Here!” “Help me organize the cross-regional assistance requests posted by other guilds over the last three months.” Aether took out parchment and a quill.
“What are you going to do?” “Go make some friends.” Aether wrote down the names of Blue Pegasus and Lamia Scale on the paper.
The train let out a long whistle as it entered a dark tunnel.
Aether looked at his own reflection in the glass.
To forge iron, one must be strong themselves.
The practical effect of the Elemental Symphony was good, but the shortcoming in total Magic Power was too obvious.
He needed more Primogems.
He needed to pull more character experience.
“Where are we going to pick up the next mission?” Paimon asked.
“To the northern snow mountains.” Aether put down his pen.
“I heard there are ice-attribute magical beasts there.
I want to try the Melt reaction with Cryo and Pyro.” The snow mountains.
Aether closed his eyes.
He had a premonition.
This trip to the snow mountains would lead to a meeting with someone not in his plans.
That rumored Ice-Make Mage wandering in the north.
The train sped along the tracks, heading toward an unknown destination.