"What?!"
Makarov's eyes widened in surprise.
"You brat, you're way too bold for a newcomer! How dare you accept this mission? No way—you'd better pick something else."
Kaien said seriously, "Master! I'm confident I can complete this mission!"
After all, he had drawn Ulquiorra. Even if his magic power was too low to unleash Ulquiorra's full strength, it was still more than enough to deal with small fry like these.
Makarov shook his head. "This isn't about confidence—it's about strength."
"I have the strength to complete it!"
"You stubborn brat, why are you so hard-headed?!"
Makarov slammed his hand on the table, visibly irritated.
"What's going on? Why's the Master so angry?"
"Looks like the new guy wants to take on a mission, but the Master's not letting him."
"What kind of mission would the Master refuse?"
"It's the one to eliminate the Phantom Thief Guild!"
"What?!"
Everyone in the guild was shocked.
The Phantom Thief Guild had risen to notoriety in recent times—a guild of mages who looted and pillaged without restraint.
Their crimes were so vile that even the Dark Guilds disdained them.
Dark Guilds, though often taking shady commissions, at least completed their tasks and took their payment.
But the Phantom Thief Guild? They used magic to rob and kill innocent civilians, completely breaking the unspoken code among mages.
The Magic Council had been hunting them relentlessly, but the group was elusive—striking and vanishing without a trace every time, which only made them more infamous.
According to victims' reports, the Phantom Thief Guild had thirteen members—all mages. That made them about as powerful as a small guild.
To handle such a group, a solo mage would need to be at least S-Class level. Even someone like Natsu, one of Fairy Tail's top combatants, would need a partner to stand a real chance.
For the average mage, it would take at least five people—and even then, it'd be dangerous.
That's why the mission had been sitting there for days with no one daring to take it.
And now Kaien, a complete newcomer, wanted to challenge it alone. It was practically suicide—reckless bravery at its finest.
"Master, I'm not being stubborn. I truly believe I can do it."
Kaien didn't back down. His target was a B-Rank mission worth at least 500,000J, and even if he tried to switch, Makarov probably wouldn't approve.
"If you can prove you're strong enough, I'll let you go."
Seeing Kaien's determination, Makarov decided to let him hit a wall and learn reality the hard way.
"How do I prove it?"
"I'll find someone in the guild. If you can beat him, you can take the job."
"Alright!"
Kaien agreed immediately.
Makarov glanced around the guild. He would've chosen Erza, but she was away on a mission, so he went for the next best thing.
"Natsu!"
"Here!"
Natsu had been waiting eagerly ever since Makarov mentioned a duel. Hearing his name, he couldn't contain his excitement and jumped straight onto the table.
"The Master actually picked Natsu!"
"That newbie's in trouble now!"
Kaien turned to look at Natsu—the pink-haired protagonist of Fairy Tail. He'd seen him since joining the guild; it was hard not to notice that flaming pink head.
He hadn't expected the Master to pair him against Natsu himself. As the anime's main character, Natsu's strength in Fairy Tail was among the very best. He might lose to Erza in casual fights, but that was only because he held back against comrades. If he went all out, he was easily S-Class.
Still, Kaien couldn't help feeling excited. He didn't know whether his current strength could rival Natsu's—but he wanted to find out.
Cana quickly pulled out a board, scribbling down the names Kaien vs Natsu, and shouted, "Place your bets!"
"Newcomer Kaien versus Natsu!"
"Bet on the newbie—payout two to one! Bet on Natsu—one to one!"
The guild burst into cheers as people rushed over to join the fun.
"I'm betting on Natsu! 2000J!"
"Natsu for me! 3000J!"
"Same here! 3000J!"
Almost everyone bet on Natsu, which made Cana nervous. Individually, the bets weren't huge, but with so many people backing Natsu, if he won, she might lose her entire month's drinking money.
"Hey! You can't all bet on Natsu! Someone bet on the newbie! If he wins, you'll double your money!"
Macao laughed. "Haha! Of course we're betting on Natsu! Who'd bet on the newbie?"
Wakaba joined in. "Exactly! No contest!"
Betting on the newcomer was risky. Betting on Natsu was a sure win. Everyone knew where to put their money.
"I'll bet on the newcomer! 3000J!"
Everyone turned to see a girl with purple hair and glasses.
"Laki, you sure?" Droy said, surprised. "That's Natsu he's up against!"
Laki adjusted her glasses calmly. "It's fine. It's just a day's meal money. Besides, it'd be sad if nobody supported the new guy."
Kaien glanced at her. He remembered her vaguely—Laki didn't appear much in the anime, usually unnoticed. But during Fairy Tail's darkest days, she was one of the few who stayed loyal, waiting in the guild until everyone returned from Tenrou Island.
That loyalty had left a deep impression on him.
When Laki noticed Kaien looking, she smiled.
"I'll bet on the newcomer too!"
"Mira?!"
It was Mirajane who had spoken.
"I think if he's daring enough to accept that kind of mission, his strength can't be weak. He might actually win against Natsu."
The others paused. She had a point. If Kaien was bold enough to take that mission, he probably wasn't weak.
Soon, a few more people bet on Kaien—but most still supported Natsu.
The crowd moved to the large open field behind the guild, with a lake stretching far into the distance.
This was where people usually settled private disputes—Natsu and Gray, Mira and Erza, they'd all fought here countless times as kids.
"Go, Natsu! Show the newbie what Fairy Tail's about!"
"Come on, newbie! My drinking money's on you!"
The crowd cheered loudly for both sides.
"Hey there, I'm Natsu. Let's have a good match."
"I'm Kaien. Likewise."
The two greeted each other politely.
Natsu asked curiously, "What kind of magic do you use?"
Kaien replied, "Take Over Magic."
Natsu's eyes lit up. "Oh! Take Over Magic!"
In Fairy Tail, the ones who used Take Over Magic were the siblings Mirajane and Elfman—both incredibly strong. Especially Mira, who used to be terrifyingly powerful before that traumatic accident.
"Both sides ready!"
"Full Body Take Over—Ulquiorra Cifer!"
Kaien's body began to change. His black clothes turned into a white, high-collared jacket with black trim, the lower half a white hakama tied by a dark sash. A Zanpakutō hung at his waist. His socks turned black, his shoes white.
His skin paled, his eyes turned green, and green tear streaks appeared beneath them. Half his head was now covered by a white horned helmet.
Anyone who had seen Bleach would instantly recognize Ulquiorra's appearance.
At the same time, Ulquiorra's memories flashed through Kaien's mind—from his birth to his final battle with Ichigo. His entire life played out in an instant, merging Kaien's consciousness with Ulquiorra's.
By the time the transformation finished, Kaien was simply standing there—yet the sheer pressure he radiated made everyone feel it in their bones.