Outskirts of the Catanado Mountains.
"This should be the destination! Ah, the air is so fresh, and looking at the beautiful scenery really puts me in a good mood."
"It's really nice. Smelling the fresh scent of grass and trees, I feel so much more relaxed," Erza said, tilting her head back and taking a deep breath, her tense body slowly relaxing.
"After this mission is complete, I'll find an opportunity to talk to the Master and see if Everyone in the Fairy Tail Guild can go camping in a beautiful place. Hmm... Tenrou Island is a good spot. I remember in my previous world, life was so busy, and I was always living alone, with no time to go out and explore. Sigh..." Zorn thought about camping after the mission while observing his surroundings.
Suddenly, a thunderous sound of fighting and a roar like Godzilla echoed from deep within the mountains.
"Erza, it seems there's something happening over there, it should be in that direction. I'll go check it out first." Zorn suddenly noticed something abnormal in the trees to his front left out of the corner of his eye. With that, his body shot up into the sky like a flash, and with a whoosh, Zorn disappeared from his original spot.
Upon hearing this, Erza immediately re-equipped into her "Blackwing Armor - Flight" and flew rapidly in the direction Zorn had disappeared.
When the two arrived, a giant lizard, three meters tall, was battling a giant python of similar size.
"Deep dark red scales, with a subtle purple luster under the sunlight. According to the description on the mission brief, this should be the lizard." Zorn and Erza hid in the distance, comparing the fighting lizard with the mission brief and found them to be identical.
"Hey, Erza, I'll deal with the lizard, and you deal with the giant python. One for each of us, should be no problem, right? Be careful with your strength; these two should fetch a good price." After confirming, Zorn and Erza decided the fate of the two magical beasts as simply as splitting an apple.
After Erza nodded in agreement, Zorn flashed, turning into a ray of light, and instantly appeared behind the giant python. He materialized in an instant and kicked the lizard's head. The lizard shot out like a cannonball, a whole row of trees were gone, leaving only a deep gully on the ground. The lizard crashed heavily to the ground, its fate unknown.
"Blackwing - Moon Flash," Erza, not to be outdone, swiftly and decisively launched a linear thrust and cross-slash towards the giant python. Upon reaching behind the giant python, the giant python instantly fell into pieces.
"Well, I seem to have underestimated the lizard's strength. It's missing a head, but that should be fine, right?" Zorn said, looking at the headless lizard corpse in front of him, feeling a bit awkward.
Erza was truly precise; there's no harm without comparison.
"It should be fine. The lizard's hide is enough for that merchant, and this giant python's hide is equally valuable. We should have overfulfilled the mission objective," Erza said, unhurriedly gathering the monster's body, bundling the two monsters into a small mountain.
"Hey, Zorn, how strong are you now? Let's have a match, using all your current strength." Erza's attitude suddenly became extremely serious, as if the weight of the entire world rested on her shoulders, as she solemnly challenged Zorn to a match.
Of course, Zorn knew what the girl in front of him had gone through before coming to the Fairy Tail Guild, and he also knew that he could only respond by treating her seriously. "Okay, I accept your invitation. I will do my best, to the best of my ability."
After Zorn finished speaking, he unleashed all of his magic power. A terrifying magical pressure instantly erupted, impacting the surroundings and creating ripples.
"Indeed, you are truly strong. You've already touched the threshold of an S-Class Mage, haven't you? Then let me see how far I am from that threshold." Erza said, jumping up and activating her Re-quip magic.
"Heaven's Wheel Armor - Sword Attack"
Countless swords rained down from the sky like a storm, their cold tips glinting, sending shivers down one's spine, rapidly piercing towards Zorn.
Zorn's hands slightly cupped in front of his chest: "Yasakani no Magatama." Countless light bullets precisely intercepted all the sharp swords, causing explosions, and the smoke from the explosions enveloped the surroundings.
"Re-quip - Lightning Empress Armor." An armor with a light pale green base and lightning patterns was now worn by Erza.
Erza instantly disappeared from her spot like a bolt of lightning, gripping the Lightning Empress Spear and thrusting directly at Zorn's face. Zorn formed a light sword in his hand and parried the spear tip with an upward swing. The energy wave instantly spread, instantly smashing the surrounding trees and rocks in half.
Subsequently, two rays of light fiercely battled dozens of times. Erza was still no match for Zorn, and her green figure flew backward at high speed, crashing heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
"Erza, are you alright?" Zorn's figure flashed, and he rushed to Erza's side, asking with concern. Seeing that Erza's armor was only slightly worn, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm fine, it's not over yet. But Zorn, your physical combat skills are truly strong. Let's decide the winner with the next strike," Erza nodded, confirming she was still capable. Although her physical combat skills were inferior, she still wanted to see how strong Zorn truly was and how much she still lacked. So, she looked at Zorn with determination.
"Alright, then I'll listen to you." Zorn, seeing Erza's determined gaze, could only comply.
Zorn nodded and ascended into the air, gathering intense light in his hands.
"Holy Light Magic - Brilliant Stars"
Erza looked at the figure above her, which brought her a great sense of crisis. She clenched her hands, gathering her last reserves of magic power, draining herself completely.
"You're really strong, but I won't give up."
"Re-quip - Star-Dress Armor - Light Particle Sword." Erza gathered beams of light and lightning waves in the light cannons of her hands, then fired them at high speed.
Like stars, the magic and energy beams, and the energy shockwave, instantly pressed down, cracking the ground. Erza struggled with all her might to maintain the stability of the light beam, holding on for a few moments before the beam gradually weakened and finally disappeared.
"Holy Light Magic - Spriggan Shield." Zorn instantly appeared beside Erza, deploying the strongest defensive magic he currently knew. His own offensive magic collided with the defensive magic, creating a stalemate.
"Rebound!" Zorn spread and pushed his hands, and the attack magic of the stars flew and crashed into the nearby mountain.
A tremendous explosion, a violent gust of wind howled past, blowing Erza off her feet, causing her to fall to the ground.
"I lost. I used all my current armors, and I still couldn't test how strong you truly are. Compared to me, you're even more of a monster. At only thirteen years old, your magic quality, magical skill, and physical combat skills are all impeccably S-Class," Erza said, standing up and smiling at Zorn with relief.
"Your magic is also excellent, Erza. Your Re-quip speed and magical attainment are very mature." Zorn paused, then continued, "There's no need to push yourself too hard, Erza. I believe that given three years, you will definitely become an S-Class Mage, absolutely. And your family in the Fairy Tail Guild is behind you, supporting you. So, Erza, enjoy life happily." After healing Erza, Zorn looked at her slightly trembling body, knowing he needed to give her some time to react. So, he turned and lifted the small mountain of monsters, walking towards the edge of the forest.
A long time passed...
"This mission's reward is deducted," Erza said as she passed Zorn, then accelerated and walked quickly ahead.
"Ah, why?" Zorn asked, chasing after her.
"Compensation for the repair of this place..."
"Isn't this place a mountain range, a wild area? Why..."
"No reason..."
"Wait for me, Erza."
Mission accomplished, in town...
----Divider----
Zorn looked down at the small portion of the mission reward left in his hand, then looked up at Erza, who was happily browsing nearby. He thought, "Well, as long as Erza can relax a bit, that's good."
Zorn and Erza selected some local specialties and gifts for Everyone in the Fairy Tail Guild in town, then quickly hurried to Magnolia. Having been away for so long, they missed their Fairy Tail Guild companions.
A few days later, at the Fairy Tail Guild.
Zorn, carrying his bag, looked up at the Guild's entrance. Zorn couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion; it had been a year since he came to this world. Time truly flies.
As he stepped through the Fairy Tail Guild's entrance, a pink figure rushed straight towards him, about to crash into Zorn. Zorn reached out and gently absorbed the force.
Looking at the little boy with pink hair and a scarf around his neck, Zorn sighed inwardly, "Has Natsu joined the Fairy Tail Guild?"