The first golden rays of the morning sun pierced through the framework of Magnolia's towering clock tower, casting dappled, dancing spots of light onto the cobblestone streets below.
Ace stood before the open window of the guild dormitory, watching the city as it slowly rubbed the sleep from its eyes.
A thin, spectral mist veiled the distant rooftops like light gauze, and the cool air was filled with the mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked bread drifting from the nearby bakery, mixed with the crisp scent of morning dew.
He took a deep breath, filling his lungs and feeling the faint, rhythmic pulse of the Digi-Soul humming within him.
Several days of quiet, meditative training had made this energy feel more solid and tangible, yet he still felt like he was hitting a wall.
Outside, a small blue-feathered bird landed on the windowsill, tilting its head to look at him with bright, curious eyes before fluttering away into the sky, leaving only a few drifting downy feathers behind.
Ace's fingertips unconsciously traced the age-worn wood grain of the window frame, lost in thought.
At his feet, Garurumon stirred and awoke, letting out a massive, jaw-cracking yawn that revealed rows of sharp gleaming fangs.
Ace bent down and ruffled the wolf's thick fur, feeling the reassuring warmth in his palm.
"It's still not enough..." he murmured to himself, his voice tinged with frustration.
Ace knew that evolving his digimon from Champion to Ultimate level would require a massive amount of data—far more than the jump to Champion.
But he hadn't expected it to be this difficult.
After joining Fairy Tail and fighting against powerful mages multiple times, none of his Digimon had triggered that natural evolution after Renamon.
Could it really be that the only path is through Dark Evolution, like with SkullGreymon?
He clenched his fist, rejecting the thought.
'No, there has to be another way.'
...
CRASH!
A clamor of noise erupted from the main hall downstairs, shaking dust from the ceiling.
The early-rising mages of Fairy Tail were always overly energetic, full of vigor and boundless, destructive vitality!
Ace walked down to find the usual chaos.
They gathered in rowdy groups, shouting about recent adventures, bragging about rewards, or sitting in corners practicing magic that occasionally backfired with a bang.
The entire scene was exceptionally lively—a perfect picture of vibrant, magical chaos.
Ace stood before the guild's request board, his brow slightly furrowed as he tuned out the noise.
Although his Digimon trained hard every day, he needed real combat.
His fingertips slid over several high-reward subjugation requests as he pondered which one to choose.
"What, still haven't decided?"
A familiar, raspy voice came from behind him.
Ace jumped slightly and turned to see Master Makarov standing there, hands behind his back, stroking his small mustache as his gaze roamed critically over the request board.
"Master," Ace nodded in greeting. "I'm just considering which mission would be more suitable for training..."
"Perfect," the Master interrupted him as a glint appearing in his eyes.
"I have a proposal. How about you go on a mission with Mirajane this time?"
Ace nearly choked on his own saliva. "Cough! What? Mirajane? Master, are you joking?"
Everyone in the guild knew that he and the She-Devil were like fire and water—or perhaps more accurately, like a wolf and a very angry demon.
The Master, however, looked as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Working together could improve your relationship. Besides, Elfman isn't going on a mission with his sisters this time."
"Huh?" Ace was taken aback. "Aren't the three of them always inseparable?"
The Master gave him a meaningful, deep look. "After you joined, those two brats, Natsu and Gray, were really stirred up. That competitive spirit motivated Elfman too. Although the kid still seems a bit hesitant now, he's starting to want to prove himself as a man." He paused, his expression softening.
"This time, he was the one who proposed taking a mission on his own, away from his big sister's care, to give it a try."
Ace became thoughtful.
He had indeed noticed that Elfman's gaze toward him, Natsu, and Gray had been somewhat complex lately.
He had been training more desperately in the courtyard.
It seemed Ace's arrival had inadvertently become a source of motivation for the guild's younger generation.
"More importantly," the Master lowered his voice, his tone turning serious, "intel suggests that remnants of a dark guild have infiltrated a local bandit group. Remember that fat guy from the dark guild you fought last time? These seem to be his associates, and they are particularly 'interested' in Mirajane."
Ace's eyes sharpened instantly.
The members of Blue Pegasus had mentioned hearing rumors about dark guilds targeting Fairy Tail members last time.
It seemed the threat was real.
"Does Mirajane know about this?"
The Master shook his head. "That girl is stubborn. If she knew she was a target, she'd be even more likely to rush off alone to deal with it."
He looked at Ace meaningfully. "That's why someone capable needs to keep an eye on her back."
Ace sighed, scratching his head.
It seemed he had no choice but to take this mission.
"But..." Ace still hesitated; there was a key practical issue. "Splitting the reward three ways... would Mirajane and Lisanna agree to that? I have a massive debt to pay off, remember?"
The Master waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about the jewels. This is a special subjugation mission, and the reward is more than generous. Besides..." he lowered his voice to a whisper.
"Mirajane may have a sharp tongue and a bad temper, but her strength is the real deal. The two of you teaming up will be beneficial for both of you."
Ace still wanted to refuse, but the Master had already made the decision.
"It's settled! I've already chosen the mission for you—clear out the Iron Fang Bandit Group that has appeared in the northern mountains of Magnolia. There are reports of abnormal magical energy fluctuations, suspected to be traces of dark guild activity. The reward is 2,700,000 Jewels. More than enough for you all to split and still make a profit."
Seeing the Master's non-negotiable expression, Ace knew the matter was not up for discussion.
He sighed, defeated. "Alright, I'll give it a try... But what about Mirajane?"
The Master revealed a sly, triumphant smile. "I've already 'discussed' it with her."
Ace's heart sank.
Knowing Mirajane's personality, that "discussion" was probably loud and not very pleasant.
Sure enough, when he braced himself and walked toward the bar, Mirajane was vigorously wiping a glass.
She was radiating a low-pressure "stay away or die" aura, with a cold expression on her face.
Lisanna stood beside her, looking a bit awkward and apologetic.
"Mirajane," Ace tried to keep his tone as calm and professional as possible, "the Master said we..."
"I know." Mirajane didn't even look up.
"North gate, eight in the morning tomorrow. If you're one second late, I'm leaving with Lisanna on my own."
Lisanna quickly tried to smooth things over, stepping forward with a bright smile.
"My sister is actually really looking forward to this mission! Right, Mira-nee?" She winked at Mirajane desperately.
"Hmph!"
Mirajane slammed the polished glass onto the rack with a clack that threatened to shatter it.
She turned to leave without another word, the back of her purple camisole dress screaming reluctance and annoyance.
Ace watched her go, feeling a headache coming on.
Getting along with a tsundere and difficult teammate like Mirajane would probably be much harder than dealing with a horde of Magical Beasts.
Lisanna smiled apologetically at Ace. "My sister is just... not very good at expressing herself. She actually really acknowledges your strength, Ace. She wouldn't agree to team up with someone she thought was weak."
"Is that so?" Ace turned to look at Lisanna, a teasing smile touching his lips. "Well, to be honest, I'm also looking forward to going on a mission with someone as cute and kind as you, Lisanna."
Lisanna's face flushed red, and her heart leaped with joy at Ace's sudden compliment!
She quickly lowered her voice, becoming serious.
"By the way, Ace... for this mission, my sister really does need your help. The northern mountain area hasn't been safe lately. There are rumors that remnants of a dark guild are active, and they might be after my sister specifically..."
Before she could finish the warning, Mirajane's sharp voice cut through the air from the back kitchen.
"Lisanna! Come and help! Don't talk to idiots!"
Lisanna flinched, then playfully stuck her tongue out at Ace.
She hastily turned and fled toward the kitchen, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.