Training Routine

The sunlight poured down, illuminating the spacious training ground.

Eight-year-old Allen stood firmly in the center of the field, his hands tightly gripping Gram, its barrel gleaming with a cold light. Beside him, seven-year-old Laxus stood tall, his young figure exuding a fiery spirit and determination.

Facing them, Makarov, though not tall, stood like a mountain in the training ground.

Makarov's gaze was calm and profound as he watched the two children before him, devoid of any trace of contempt. Instead, it was filled with recognition and expectation. "Allen, remember this: although you can now control Gram, you must never be content with your current progress or stop moving forward. Your potential is boundless, your future immeasurable. But the prerequisite is that you must calm your mind and maintain clear thinking, no matter the time or place. As for Laxus, you were born with an immense amount of Magic Power that surpasses ordinary people. Precisely because of this, you need to temper and control this surging power within you through constant training. Alright, children, show me the results of your hard training these past few days!" He raised his hand slightly, gesturing for Allen and Laxus to attack him.

Allen took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and felt the power of Gram flowing within him. He could feel this power perfectly merging with his body, as if it were a part of him. Gram's Magic Power surged through his veins, and he could feel every magic particle resonating with his cells. Each breath deepened his connection to this power.

Then, Allen opened his eyes, a determined light flashing within them. He tightened his grip on Gram, feeling the perfect fit between the Chrono-Adamantium and his palms. He then lowered his body slightly before springing forward like a coiled spring, charging towards Makarov.

Laxus, following Allen's lead, also charged towards Makarov. His fists condensed with Magic Power. Despite being younger than Allen, his eyes held a determined glint, and his aura was no less imposing.

Allen attacked first, his Gram drawing a silver arc through the air, piercing towards Makarov with a cold glint. Makarov, however, remained unhurried. As Allen approached, he flickered and easily dodged the attack. Laxus, who was behind Allen, adjusted his stance, then propelled himself into the air with his legs, lunging towards Makarov ahead and throwing a punch. His fist was now wreathed in a large amount of Magic Power, emitting a dazzling light in the air.

As soon as Makarov regained his footing, he saw Laxus's attack. However, Makarov's expression remained unchanged. He reached out with his right hand and grabbed Laxus's wrist. He twisted his body slightly, pulling Laxus down from the air and then throwing him backward.

Laxus's body flew uncontrollably in an arc before crashing heavily onto the ground behind him, kicking up a cloud of dust. Allen seized this opening, circling around to Makarov's side and attacking again. Gram thrust directly towards his flank. Makarov sidestepped again to avoid the thrust and simultaneously swung his fist towards the barrel of Gram. Allen felt a tremendous force transmit through the weapon, nearly making him lose his grip. His arm trembled slightly from bearing the immense power, but he gritted his teeth and stabilized his weapon.

Just then, Laxus, who had been thrown to the ground by Makarov earlier, quickly ran behind Makarov and swung a fist imbued with powerful Magic Power at him. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Makarov leaped into the air, causing Laxus's attack to miss and strike the empty air.

Makarov landed slowly with a smile, signaling for them to pause. He then smiled and said to them, "Your coordination is excellent." His voice carried a hint of praise. He knew these two children possessed infinite potential and looked forward to them both surpassing their limits.

Allen and Laxus, slightly out of breath, exchanged smiles. They knew this was just the beginning and that they still had a long way to go. But they also knew that as long as they continued to work hard, nothing was impossible.

At this moment, Makarov looked at Laxus with a solemn expression and said slowly, "Laxus, I have good news for you. Your father should be back in a few days. He has found the Lightning Dragon Slayer Crystal that can suppress the immense Magic Power within you. Once Polyushika has examined your body and it's deemed safe, we will implant it into you. This will not only help you control the uncontrollable, surging Magic Power within you but also allow you to harness the powerful strength contained within the Lightning Dragon. However, before that, there are some things I must make clear to you. Once you possess this power, you must absolutely not use it to attack any member of our Guild. Our original intention was for you to protect every family member in the Guild, not to become a weapon to harm them. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Upon hearing this, Laxus straightened his chest without hesitation and replied loudly, "Of course! Grandpa, you can rest assured. I understand the responsibility and mission this power carries. Besides, I want to be the Guild Master in the future!" Allen, standing nearby, quickly chimed in, "Grandpa, please don't worry. I promise you, I will never let Laxus do that."

Makarov nodded with relief. "You are both good children. The future of Fairy Tail depends on you."

At the edge of the training ground, a figure slowly approached, looking impatient. It was Polyushika.

Before she even got close, Polyushika shouted loudly, "Hey! Makarov, are you done talking? These two still need to go for their medicinal bath!" Her tone clearly revealed a hint of dissatisfaction.

Hearing this, Makarov revealed a sheepish smile and quickly replied, "Ah, ah, we're done. I was just discussing the Lightning Dragon Slayer Crystal with Laxus." He scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.

Polyushika heard this, crossed her arms, and frowned deeply, staring sharply at Makarov. She questioned, "Have you really decided to implant the Dragon Slayer Crystal into Laxus? With his current physical strength, he might not be able to withstand it."

Laxus, standing beside them, immediately shouted, "Grandma, please don't worry! I'll be fine. I don't want to fall too far behind Brother Allen!" His voice was loud and firm, filled with fighting spirit.

Polyushika glanced at Laxus, sighed softly, and shook her head helplessly. "Fine, fine. Do as you wish. The medicinal bath is ready for you. Go soak in it quickly."

Given permission, Allen and Laxus felt as if they had received a great pardon. They immediately scurried away like two startled rabbits, their tails between their legs. They both clearly sensed Polyushika's displeasure and knew that if they lingered any longer, they might face a scolding.

Seeing this, Makarov also gave a slight cough and then quickly left the training ground as if he had oiled his soles. After all, he didn't want to stay there and become the target of Polyushika's anger.