Next was Barrier magic, and Kazu had learned several status-inducing effects like sleep spells, nausea-inducing, motion sickness for Laxus, which he hasn't tried yet, and many more that lack people to experiment on.
'I have finally mastered Three Pillar Gods and could even use it with Lock in a short amount of time. However, Multi-lock is still pretty hard with that.
Also, the recent development with that was 'Crush', which allows him to shrink any barrier, causing the immobilised people a lot of pain.' This was the same move Kazu used with Three Pillar Gods as a finisher in the recent S-rank trials. Though the downsides of that spell are that it takes too long to cast, especially with strong barriers like Three Pillar Gods.
'Finally, this is not technically a magic attribute, but something on that level. Emotional Amplification. It works on my unnatural ability to feel more emotions than others, which I think is similar to future Natsu.
Currently, I have two modes in that.
Emotional Amplification, which is the controlled mode, where I feel intense emotions, but not intense enough to lose my sanity.
Next is Emotional Amplification: Limitless.
This is actually a terrifying mode. I finally lost my sanity in this. The only reason I don't fight like a beast is because of my Instincts, and I seem to have some control over not hurting my allies, but it's not fixed. I suspect that my Instinct magic might be the reason for that.
What makes it terrifying is that my emotions and, in turn, Ethernano continuously create a negative feedback cycle, which makes both of them increase continuously. Theoretically, there should be a limit on this, but I have never seen it till now.
In my fight with Gildarts with Laxus, I wanted to check its limits, but even in that, Gildarts knocked me out before I could see that, as it got too dangerous.
The side effects are that my body suffers a lot due to high Ethernano surging throughout my body. If it went unchecked, I might suffer some permanent damage, so I will only use it if it's life-and-death.
Lastly, there's a third mode which I am trying to develop now. Emotional Self-Regulation.
My future self showed this ability, to have such control over his emotions that he could switch them like a button.' Kazu remembered the words of his previous life's mother.
"So, you can make yourself feel fake emotions?"
"Fake?... Nope, they are as real as when I naturally feel it."
Kazu unconsciously clenched his fist. He took a deep breath. 'Well, the only way I would know if it works is after experimenting. I can already do it at small levels. So, nothing too new.'
Kazu quickly jotted down a few notes before moving on to the last part of his combat system.
'Fairy Glitter... I tried to learn it in the last three months, but it's too complicated. I have already shared the full version with the master. I will give a month or two before moving on from it. If the master didn't learned it in a year or two, then I will go back to Tenrou island and ask the first master to teach me.'
Kazu wasn't really in a rush to learn it. His last three months weren't wasted. His understanding of magic had increased, which in turn has increased the effectiveness of practically all his spells.
"Well, time for some spells." Kazu rubbed his hand before getting back to his experimentation with Fairy Glitter.
***
One month later.
Makarov waited until the guild hall emptied. The last few members shuffled out with mission flyers and half-finished drinks, leaving only the old man, a stack of reports, and Kazu standing by the job board like he'd been carved there. Lantern light flickered against the guild's wooden beams; the air smelled faintly of soaked timber. The rain outside hadn't stopped for three days.
Makarov exhaled through his nose. "It's worse than what the Council wrote."
Kazu walked over, hands in his pockets. "How much worse?"
"Half the coastline between Ishgar and Guiltina is underwater. Fishing villages drowned to the rooftops. Ports closed. Cargo routes stalled." Makarov tapped the report, jaw tightening. "Blast Sea currents changed direction overnight. That shouldn't be possible unless something massive is stirring under it."
"I don't want to send you." Makarov's voice dipped; age and irritation leaked through it. "But the Council is useless. Alvarez is breathing down the border means every military mage we have is tied up. I've got three S-Ranks counting you. Two are on assignments I can't interrupt. That leaves—"
"A fourteen-year-old--me." Kazu's tone stayed flat, not mocking, just stating the obvious. He could understand why the old man was hesitant to send him there. Kazu hasn't been on a mission at such a large distance, especially leaving the continent entirely.
Makarov's frown softened. "A fourteen-year-old with more sense than half the Council combined. Doesn't mean I like sending you."
'Guiltina is the same place where Deliora was sealed. Though I am going into the ocean, there is a very high chance that mages from there would come on the mission.'
The old man rubbed his forehead. His fingers shook slightly before he steadied them. "Look. If this were a simple flood, I'd send a whole team. But the ethernano readings—there's a spike under the water. Deep. Consistent. This feels like something ancient waking up or someone trying to wake it."
Kazu studied the map pinned beside him, tracing the coastline, the marked red zones, the collapsed docks. "How fast are the tides rising?"
"Faster than any storm surge. Entire ships got dragged inward like toys." Makarov closed the folder. "This is the kind of thing an S-Rank handles."
Kazu nodded once. "I'll go."
"Just like that?" Makarov's brows shot up. "You could at least pretend to hesitate. For my sanity."
"No point pretending. If you have no alternatives, then I don't either." Kazu's tone stayed calm, but something flickered behind his eyes—a calculation, not fear. "Who else do you want to send with me?"
"That's your call," Makarov said. "But keep it small. And competent. If something in that sea is hunting, larger groups… attract attention. Moreover, expect S-rank wizards from either Alvarez or Guiltina."
Kazu turned toward the stairs. "I'll pick someone."
"Kazu." Makarov's voice followed him—rough, low, tired. "Come back in one piece. And bring your team back too."
Kazu paused, nodded again, and walked out. "I definitely will."
The Shadow Gear were in the library when he found them, hunched over a thick spellbook that looked like it could swallow them whole. Levy spotted him first; her eyes brightened before she tried to play it cool.
Kazu quickly explained the mission to them.
"I'm taking one of you with me."
Jet straightened immediately. "Me. I'm fast enough—"
"No." Kazu didn't raise his voice, just cut cleanly through the room. "Not this mission."
Droy puffed his chest. "Then me—"
"No."
The silence stretched. Levy blinked once. "So… me?"
"Yes."
Jet frowned. "Why only Levy? If there's danger, more people means—"
"More casualties if we're hit by something stronger than you," Kazu said if he were discussing weather patterns. "This is an S-Rank threat zone. I won't split my focus protecting more than one person. I am bringing Levy because of her familiarity with ancient language."
Jet's mouth shut instantly.
Levy's hands hovered awkwardly at her sides. "I… won't slow you down." She didn't think that her hobby of reading weird stuff like that would actually be useful in the mission.
"I wouldn't pick you if you would." Kazu pushed off the doorframe. "Pack for at least a month. Bring your stealth scripts, barrier variants, anything that cancels noise, and whatever you've been experimenting with. I will train you on the trail."
"Really? Yes!" Levy pumped her fist. It's been a while since Kazu helped her train with full attention, especially for such a long time. The only people Kazu had helped train for such a long time are Cana, Gray, Mira and Natsu.
Kazu had spent some time with Erza, too, but his expertise wasn't enough at the time to help her properly. She was already at a higher level of proficiency with her magic, unlike others.
Droy stepped forward, concerned. "You sure this isn't too much for her?"
"She'll be essential." Kazu didn't elaborate. Instinct told him Levy was the right call, and his instincts rarely bothered to explain themselves.
Jet exhaled through his nose. "Just come back. Both of you."
Levy grinned, though the edges looked tight. "We will. Hopefully without being eaten by a sea monster."
Kazu nodded once. "Meet me at the station in an hour."
***
"Hey, I would be gone for a month or so." Kazu crouched on the window.
Cana glanced at him from her book. "Kay. I will tell everyone who asks me."
"Don't slack on your precognition training. I expect some good progress by the time I return." Kazu didn't wait for her reply and left.
Cana rolled her eyes. "Easy for you to say." She then looked at the window.
'He seemed pretty serious. I wonder what the mission is about.' She focused back on the book.
***
Join my Patreon to support me.
You can even find 20 advanced chapters there:
- DESIRE96
(search it up)
Check out my other works.