On the outskirts of the Katanado Mountains.
"This should be our destination! Ah, the air is so fresh. Looking at this beautiful scenery really lifts my spirits."
"It really is nice. Smelling the fresh scent of the grass and trees, I suddenly feel so much more relaxed." Erza tilted her head back and took a deep breath, her tense body slowly relaxing.
"Once this mission is over, I'll find a chance to talk to the master and see if everyone in the guild can go camping somewhere beautiful. Hmm... Tenrou Island would be a good place. Back in my previous world, life was so busy, and I was always on my own. I never had time to go out and explore, either. Sigh..." As Zorn surveyed his surroundings, he was also thinking about camping after the mission.
Suddenly, the rumbling sounds of a fight and a roar like Godzilla's came from deep within the mountains.
"Erza, something seems to be happening over there. It should be in that direction. I'll go take a look first." As Zorn considered it, he caught sight of something unusual about the trees ahead and to the left. With that, he shot into the sky like a flash of light. With a rush of air, Zorn vanished from where he stood.
Hearing this, Erza immediately used Requip: "Black Feather Armor: Flight," and flew rapidly after Zorn.
By the time they arrived, a giant lizard three meters tall was locked in a deadly fight with a python of the same size.
"Deep, dark red scales with a subtle purple sheen in the sunlight. According to the description on the mission sheet, this should be the right lizard." Hiding some distance away, Zorn and Erza examined the mission sheet and carefully compared it to the fighting lizard, finding it an exact match.
"Hey, Erza, I'll take the lizard and you take the python. One each. That should be fine, right? Be careful how much force you use. Both of them should fetch a good price." Once Zorn had confirmed it, he and Erza decided the two monsters' fates as casually as if they were splitting an apple.
After Erza nodded her agreement, Zorn flashed into motion, becoming a beam of light that went straight behind the python. He instantly materialized and kicked the lizard in the head, sending it flying like a cannonball. A whole row of trees disappeared, leaving only a deep trench in the ground. The lizard slammed heavily into the earth, its fate unknown.
"Black Feather: Moon Flash!" Not to be outdone, Erza made a clean, swift thrust in a straight line, delivering a cross-shaped slash at the python. When she reached its other side, the python instantly fell to pieces.
"Um... I think I misjudged how tough the lizard was. It's missing its head, but that should be okay, right?" Zorn said, slightly embarrassed as he looked at the headless lizard corpse before him.
Erza really was precise. The comparison made him look bad.
"It should be fine. The skin on this lizard will be enough for that merchant to use, and the python's skin is just as valuable. We should have exceeded the mission's objective." As Erza spoke, she calmly gathered up the monsters' bodies and tied the two of them into a small mountain.
"Hey, Zorn, how strong are you now? Spar with me. Use all the strength you have right now." Erza's demeanor suddenly turned extremely serious, as though the weight of the entire world rested on her shoulders, and she solemnly challenged Zorn to a match.
Zorn, of course, knew exactly what the girl before him had experienced before joining the guild. He also knew that only by taking her seriously could he answer her challenge. "All right, I accept. I'll do my best and give it everything I've got."
With that, Zorn released all his magic power at full force. A terrifying magical pressure burst forth, surging outward and stirring up waves of ripples.
"Just as I thought, you really are strong. You've already reached the threshold of S-Class, haven't you? Then let me see just how far I still have to go to reach it." Erza leaped into the air and unleashed her Requip Magic.
"Heaven's Wheel Armor: Sword Attack!"
Countless swords rained down like a torrential storm, their tips flashing with a chilling light as they stabbed toward Zorn at tremendous speed.
Zorn brought his hands together loosely before his chest. "Yasakani no Magatama!" Countless bullets of light intercepted every sword with precision, setting off explosions that filled the surroundings with smoke.
"Requip: Lightning Emperor's Armor!" Armor with a pale green base and lightning patterns appeared on Erza.
Erza vanished from where she stood like a bolt of lightning, thrusting the Lightning Emperor's Spear straight at Zorn's face. A Light Sword formed in Zorn's hand, and he swept it upward to block the spear tip. A wave of energy instantly spread out, smashing the surrounding trees and rocks in half.
The two streaks of light clashed dozens of times in an instant. Erza was still no match for Zorn, and her green figure flew backward at high speed, crashing heavily to the ground and sending dust billowing.
"Are you all right, Erza?" Zorn flashed to her side and asked with concern. Seeing that her armor was only a little scuffed, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm fine. We're not done yet. But Zorn, your Physical Arts really are strong. Let's decide the winner with the next attack." Erza nodded, confirming that she was all right. Though her Physical Arts were inferior, she still wanted to see just how strong Zorn was and how far behind him she remained, so she looked at him resolutely.
"All right, we'll do it your way." Seeing Erza's determined gaze, Zorn could only agree.
Zorn nodded and rose into the air, gathering a brilliant light in his hands.
"Holy Light Magic: Starlight Radiance!"
Erza looked at the figure above her, which gave her an overwhelming sense of danger. Clenching her hands, she gathered the last of her magic power, draining every bit she had left.
"You really are strong, but I won't admit defeat either."
"Requip: Star Dress Armor: Light Particle Sword!" Erza gathered beams of light and waves of lightning in the beam cannons on both hands, then fired them at high speed.
The star-like magic and the energy beam collided, and the resulting shock wave instantly pressed down on the ground, splitting it apart. Erza fought with all her might to keep the beam steady, but after holding on for a few moments, it gradually weakened and finally vanished.
"Holy Light Magic: Holy Shield!" Zorn appeared beside Erza in an instant and deployed the strongest defensive magic he currently knew. His own attack struck the defensive spell, and the two remained deadlocked for a time.
"Reflect!" Zorn spread his hands and pushed, sending the star-like attack racing into the mountainside nearby.
Rumble! A tremendous explosion rang out, and a violent wind howled past, leaving Erza unable to keep her footing. She fell to the ground.
"I lost. I used every suit of armor I currently have, and I still couldn't find out just how strong you are. Compared to me, you're even more of a monster. You're only thirteen, but your magic power, magical skill, and Physical Arts are all unquestionably S-Class." Erza stood up and smiled at Zorn, having come to terms with it.
"Your magic is outstanding too. Your Requip speed and mastery of magic are already very polished, Erza." Zorn paused, then continued, "There's no need to push yourself so hard, Erza. I believe that if you're given three years, you'll definitely become an S-Class Mage. Definitely. And your family in the guild will all be there to support you, so, Erza, be happy and enjoy life." After healing Erza, Zorn looked at her slightly trembling body and knew he had to give her time to react. So he turned, lifted the small mountain of monster bodies beside them, and walked toward the edge of the forest.
A long time passed...
"The reward for this mission is being deducted," Erza said beside Zorn. Then she quickened her pace, passing him and walking briskly ahead.
"Huh? Why?" Zorn hurried after her and asked.
"To pay for the repairs to this place..."
"But isn't this a mountain range? It's wilderness. Why..."
"No reason..."
"Wait for me, Erza."
The mission was complete. In town...
Zorn looked down at the mission reward in his hand, of which less than half remained, then glanced up at Erza, who was happily picking things out beside him. Well, as long as Erza can relax a little.
Zorn and Erza picked out some local specialties and gifts for everyone in the guild, then hurried back to Magnolia. They had been away for so long that they missed their guildmates.
A few days later, at the Fairy Tail guild.
With a bag on his back, Zorn looked up at the guild doors before him. He couldn't help feeling a little reflective. He had already been in this world for a year. Time really did fly.
Just as he walked through the guild doors, a pink figure came hurtling straight at him. Seeing that it was about to crash into him, Zorn reached out, caught it, and gently absorbed the impact.
Looking at the little boy before him, with pink hair and a towel wrapped around his neck, Zorn thought in surprise, Natsu joined the guild?