Lost Ancient Rare Magic!

(Many thanks to the patrons: 'Wandering in a World Without You', 'Bing Yue Ying', 'Yun Qi Qing Gu', 'You ·丶', 'Breezeless Skyline', 'Xiong Mao A!', 'Xiao h Zhai', '703's Rabbit', 'Shan Yang'!)

(I got a category recommendation push—overall, much better than the last book. I hope next week brings another good spot too. So, friends, how about some collections, recommendations, and clicks? These freebies don't hurt, right?)

The duel between Noah and Erza ended in just about five minutes.

And their location wasn't too far from the Fairy Tail guild.

So, after about half an hour, the two of them returned to the guild.

At this point, both Noah and Erza had a sheathed Knight Sword tucked at their waists. One wore an ordinary shirt, trousers, and a jacket, exuding a carefree air; the other was clad in cold armor, brimming with heroic spirit. They looked like a pair.

Add to that three months of shared training and constant companionship, and even their breathing, posture, and steps had unconsciously fallen into sync. If not for Noah's jet-black hair instead of vivid red, many might have mistaken them for twin siblings.

In this state, they walked straight back to the guild, pushed open the door, and listened to the usual lively clamor inside. Watching the noisy scenes before them, they exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.

Clearly, both Noah and Erza felt an unusual warmth toward Fairy Tail's characteristic bustle.

Unfortunately, that warmth was soon interrupted by a rough shout.

"Erza!"

With a yell full of childish vigor, a figure leaped up from a nearby table and lunged at Erza beside Noah like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey.

"Fight me!"

Hearing this, Erza didn't even lift her eyes, as if she were used to it. As the figure soared through the air not far from her, she deftly sidestepped and then threw a heavy punch, slamming it into the oncoming figure's nose.

"Bam!"

"Ah!"

A dull thud and a scream echoed through the Fairy Tail guild. The figure that had lunged at Erza flew sideways like a piece of oversized trash.

Standing beside Erza and directly in the path of the flying figure, Noah didn't match Erza's expressionless calm, but he quietly stepped back just as the figure rushed at Erza.

So, the figure that should have crashed into Noah instead brushed past him, missing by less than ten centimeters, and slammed hard into the nearby wall.

"Thud!"

The wall was dented into a crater, and the figure that had lunged at Erza was embedded in it, eyes rolled back, mouth agape, before sliding down to the floor, smoke rising from his body.

"Honestly..." Erza finally let out a sigh.

"I'm not in the mood to fight today, so let's skip the duel!"

"Could you say that after you've finished fighting?" Noah couldn't help but cover his face. He looked at Gray, who was lying on the ground in nothing but shorts, with spirals in his eyes, and felt drained.

"And Gray, I think it'd be a good idea to put some clothes on before challenging someone to a duel—especially if your opponent's a girl."

"S-shut up..." Gray, still with spirals in his eyes, lay on the floor, tearfully groaning.

Just then, a voice rang out from a corner of the guild.

"Amazing..."

Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Noah and Erza turned their gazes toward its source.

There, in front of the guild bar, stood a boy who looked about ten years old, younger than both Noah and Erza. He had rare cherry-blossom-colored hair, a thick scarf wrapped around his neck, and a travel bag beside him—clearly a newcomer to the guild.

"Hey! What's your name?!" The cherry-haired boy hopped excitedly, pointing at Erza without any restraint.

"Taking down that pervert in one shot—I'm interested in you!"

"Who're you calling a pervert?!" Gray, who had been lying limp on the floor, instantly sprang up like he'd been resurrected, veins bulging on his forehead.

"You wanna fight, string bean?!"

"Forget it, droopy eyes!" The boy grinned.

"You can't even beat a girl—I'm not scared of you!"

Gray's expression froze, and he stood there, speechless.

Not just Gray—everyone in the guild fell silent at that moment. The atmosphere grew heavy, as if some fierce beast were about to emerge, and they all looked at Erza with fear.

"Oh?" Erza's lips curled into a pleased arc. That expression made everyone in the guild, except Noah, tremble inside.

"What's your name?"

"Me?" The boy seemed unaware of the shift in atmosphere. He rested his hands behind his head, grinned, and flashed a bright smile.

"I'm Natsu! Natsu Dragneel!"

Watching the brilliant smile on the boy named Natsu's face, Noah, who had been quietly observing him, felt his own expression soften. It was like being bathed in gentle sunlight, and he couldn't help but take a liking to Natsu.

Not just Noah—Erza, Gray, and everyone in the guild unconsciously accepted Natsu thanks to that radiant smile, even if they didn't show it on their faces. But Noah, who knew them all well, could tell.

Natsu Dragneel, huh?

What an incredible person.

Feeling goodwill toward Natsu because of his magnetic personality, Noah was the first to extend a friendly gesture, smiling gently.

"I'm Noah! Noah Dreyar!"

"I'm Erza! Erza Scarlet!"

"Noah and Erza?" The previously cocky Natsu now counted on his fingers, ticking off two names, and broke into a happy laugh.

"Igneel, I've remembered two more names!"

"Igneel?" Noah asked, curiosity coloring his voice.

"Who's Igneel?"

Hearing this, Natsu puffed out his chest and declared with great pride.

"Igneel is my old man! The strongest dragon in the world!"

"A dragon?!" The members of Fairy Tail fell silent in unison.

"A dragon?" Noah blinked, then spoke in a tone thick with uncertainty.

"Natsu, you mean your father is a dragon?"

"That's right!" Seeing the doubt on everyone's faces in the guild, Natsu looked as if he'd been insulted and shouted indignantly.

"I'm not lying! My magic was taught to me by Igneel too! It's called Dragon Slayer Magic!"

Everyone in Fairy Tail exchanged bewildered glances.

Though Fairy Tail had plenty of talented mages, due to their general style, few were truly well-versed in obscure knowledge—but Dragon Slayer Magic was something they'd heard of.

It was a magic that transformed the user's body into that of a dragon, used to slay dragons!

Legend had it that mages who wielded Dragon Slayer Magic possessed a dragon's physique: skin as tough as dragon scales, claws as sharp as dragon claws, teeth as fierce as dragon fangs. They could consume materials corresponding to the type of Dragon Slayer Magic they practiced to restore stamina and magic power, and even enhance their strength!

Magic meant to counter dragons?

No need to think twice—it was undoubtedly incredibly powerful magic.

And now, a kid even younger than Noah and Erza claimed to wield such power. Who wouldn't be skeptical?

What's more, Dragon Slayer Magic was a Lost Magic—an ancient art that had already been lost to time. Even in antiquity, it was an exceedingly rare type. To have it suddenly appear before them now—who could really believe it?

Only Noah, after sensing the magic power emanating from Natsu, slowly grew serious.