~ “It’s enough.” “Because I’m really not good at fighting~.” Warrod smiled at Igor and stated the fact.
“Hehe.” Igor wore a polite smile.
Warrod was indeed not very good at combat… That said, Warrod was the Wizard with the lowest combat ability among “God”-level Wizards.
Even if placed below “God” level, he would still possess overwhelming power.
In fact, in Igor’s view, the true strength of those holding the title of “Ten Wizard Saints” was far too questionable.
If one classified the Wizards on the Ishgar Continent who held the title of “Ten Great Wizards,” and Wizards comparable to them, into several levels, Igor would roughly divide them into five categories.
The first level was the 9th or 10th seat of the “Ten Saints” — the last seats of the “Ten Saints.” At this level, the gap between a Wizard belonging to a first-rate guild and an “S-Class” Wizard was not that large.
A representative figure was Jura Neekis, who was ambushed by Angel with “Sacred Prayer” and lost instantly.
And Erza, who in the Tower of Heaven arc was designated by Jellal as a “Ten Wizard Saints”-level sacrifice, and after death in Natsu’s dream was crowned as the last of the “Ten Wizard Saints.” Great Wizards of this level had merely taken the first step into the domain of the “Ten Saints,” and could be said to have not yet progressed much within the “Ten Saints” hierarchy.
When they encountered senior “S-Class” Wizards of Wizard Guilds, they often got drawn into harsh battles.
The second tier consisted of Great Wizards ranked 6th, 7th, or 8th among the “Ten Wizard Saints,” positioned in the middle of the “Ten Wizard Saints.” Representative characters included Ur, who in the Galuna Island arc mastered “Iced Shell” in Gray’s memories; Jose Porla, boss of the Phantom Lord arc; Jellal, boss of the Tower of Heaven arc; Laxus, boss of the civil war arc; Midnight, boss of the Oración Seis arc; and others.
Wizards of this level differed greatly from ordinary “S-Class” Wizards.
All of them possessed “super magic” capable of instantly killing lower-ranked Wizards.
(Note: this is important, so it is repeated twice!) The third stage was the fifth of the “Ten Saints,” also called the “limit of humanity.” Why was it called the “limit of humanity”?
Because if he took one more step forward, he would reach the “non-human realm.” There, those stronger than him were no longer human.
Notable characters included Makarov appearing at the beginning of the story; Bluenote Stinger appearing in the Devil’s Heart arc; Gildarts, who was given a 2.5-times physical disability by the strongest Dragon Slayer in history; and Jura Neekis appearing in the Grand Magic Games seven years later.
Even if they fought with all their strength, they would at best be able to exchange two blows with Ishgar’s Four Gods.
The fourth tier was the tier where Ishgar’s Four Gods existed.
4th of the “Ten,” Warrod; 3rd, Wolfheim; 2nd, Hyberion; and 1st, “God” Serena had also currently reached this level.
Converted to the “Alvarez Empire,” it would roughly correspond to the level from “weak Spriggan” to “ordinary Spriggan.” And the fifth level was composed of “Goddess” Serena, “War Queen” Dimaria, and Gildarts, who, after further training on the “Alvarez Empire,” officially reached “Top Spriggan” level.
They possessed enough power to bind the last nine of the “Ten Saints” and spin them like tops.
While thinking this, Igor’s eyes swayed faintly.
Clearly, for him now, fighting these powerful figures was still too early.
“Phew.” Then Igor let out a big breath.
What he should do now was change his way of thinking and strive to become stronger.
“Phew.” Mirajane beside him also let out a deep sigh just like Igor.
Her only goal now was to greedily absorb knowledge.
Thus, Igor and Mirajane each continued walking their separate paths.
… Time passed in the blink of an eye, and a month and a half went by.
“BOOM!” After a month and a half of intensive training, Igor’s magical power finally opened a breakthrough.
[Character Panel:] Name: Igor Age: 16 Guild: None Magical Power: S- (+) Ethernano: S- (+) Magic Container: First Magic Container (3 years until magical power and magic barrier particles reach the next level.
Combat can accelerate level-up.) Currently contracted demons: Bomb Demon and Shredder Demon.
Attached magic books: “Advanced Magic and Ethernano Refinement Method” and “Elementary Magic and Ethernano Refinement Method.” “At last, a breakthrough has been opened.” Igor sat in the arena, facing five plant golems.
After a month and a half of harsh training, he had shortened the time until a magical power level breakthrough — which should originally have taken three months — to a mere month and a half.
Based on this pace, Igor predicted he would reach SS level by system evaluation around age 17 or 18, a level comparable to the “Ten Wizard Saints.” Meanwhile, with Warrod’s help, Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna had mastered the basic knowledge.
As for putting the “Advanced Magic Refinement Method” into practice, that depended on each of the Strauss Siblings’ own efforts.
On the other hand, in order to help the Strauss Siblings master the “advanced refinement technique”… He dismantled the book Advanced Refinement Method and extracted from it an “Intermediate Refinement Method” as transitional material.
“Igor, Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna…” “Now that it’s come to this, I have nothing more to teach you.” At the graduation ceremony, Warrod stood before Igor, Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna with a gentle smile.
He looked at Igor and the others as if they were his own descendants.
“Thank you, Master Warrod…” Igor bowed deeply to Warrod and expressed his heartfelt gratitude.
“Thank you, Master Warrod!!” Lisanna and Elfman also imitated Igor’s gesture and bowed their heads to Warrod in thanks.
“Thank you, Master Warrod.” Mirajane folded her arms and, despite her “unmanageable,” “unconventional” personality, bowed her head to Warrod with gratitude.
“Haha~” Hearing this, Warrod smiled, shook his head, and said gently, “Please call me Teacher!
Being called Master is absurd.
All I taught was basic knowledge that everyone in the magic world knows.” Warrod suddenly stopped speaking and asked, “If my memory is correct, the magic you four — Igor, Mirajane, Elfman, Lisanna — awakened is all ‘Take Over’ magic, right?” “Exactly so.” Igor, Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna exchanged glances, then answered in unison.
…