Chapter 13: Practice
"Natsu!" Happy quickly followed Natsu and ran out.
Makarov yelled at Natsu's back: "You little brat! If you want to leave, just leave and smash the table! The table isn't free! Write it down in the account and deduct it from his mission rewards next time!"
"Master, I also want to take a month's leave." Erza came to Guild Master Makarov and said. Although the guild wizards had considerable freedom, they were still part of an organization with corresponding regulations.
Guild wizards had to report when taking on jobs or traveling. After all, being a wizard was a dangerous occupation, and accidents happened. If someone went missing for too long, the guild would send people to search for them and provide rescue when needed.
"Erza?"
Erza's expression turned serious. "Dino's victory was a wake-up call for me. The assessment made me realize I'm not strong enough. I used to think I was working hard, but now I see I've been slacking off. I'm convinced that I lost, no matter how you look at it. I admit defeat, but I won't give up! I'll challenge him again once I've become stronger."
"Uh… Okay!" Seeing Erza's determined look, Makarov had no choice but to agree.
"Master, we have to go out to train for a while!" Mirajane also came to Makarov to request leave. After speaking, she didn't wait for Master Makarov's response and turned to leave with her brother Elfman and sister Lisanna.
Gray spoke up. "Master, I need to go on a training journey. I'll be back in a month." You stayed up late studying magic in secret even though we all agreed to fail together. It's unforgivable.
During their six-on-one match, there had been no close cooperation between them, but such a complete defeat was still a massive blow. However, after Makarov's words, they suddenly understood why Dino was so strong. This was what true dedication looked like.
Makarov closed his eyes with a speechless expression on his face. He suddenly understood what it meant to create your own problems. Although they were just going out to train, he felt as if the guild was about to be disbanded. Moreover, with several of the guild's top earners suddenly gone, pending requests were going to pile up again.
"Master!" Macao shouted to Makarov.
Makarov's eyes widened. "Don't tell me you want to go out training too?!"
"No, I just wanted to ask if you'd like to drink together!" Macao said with a drunken smile.
Makarov's hand suddenly grew enormous and grabbed Macao, then threw him out through the guild doors, yelling: "Get to work, idiot!!!"
The Kingdom of Fiore had a remote mountainous region covered in ancient forest. It was virtually inaccessible, overgrown with wild vegetation, and home to many terrifying monsters. This was a paradise for magical beasts. Survival of the fittest was the only law here. Endless dangers lurked in every shadow. On the maps of various mage guilds, this place was marked as a life-restricted zone.
It was synonymous with terror. No one would venture here unless absolutely necessary.
Today, a handsome young man of about fifteen stepped into the area and let out a heartfelt sigh. "The environment here is really perfect!"
It was Dino Maxim, out on a training journey. In this world saturated with magical energy, the danger posed by monsters was far greater than in ordinary wilderness. Where humans gathered to build towns and cities, monsters naturally claimed their own territories. Beyond the so-called life-restricted zones, places with harsh environments mostly served as gathering grounds for such creatures.
However, Dino had already cleared out four such forbidden zones. Of course, he hadn't destroyed them intentionally. They'd simply been casualties of his training process. He would never deliberately wreck them. After all, they were excellent locations for intense practice. Every place destroyed meant one less training ground, and he'd have to travel much farther to find the next suitable spot.
Suddenly, a massive monster over ten meters tall that resembled a Tyrannosaurus Rex spotted Dino. It opened its enormous jaws excitedly and charged toward him with thundering steps.
"Crack, crack, crack!" Trees snapped in its path.
"Don't bother me!"
A white halo appeared around Dino's fist as he punched to his side.
"Crack!" Space itself seemed to fracture like shattered glass.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"
A terrifying vibration erupted from Dino's fist, obliterating all the trees and boulders in its path and forcing open a passage through the dense, towering forest. The shockwave continued until it struck a distant mountain peak.
"BOOM!!!"
The mountaintop collapsed entirely, leaving only half the mountain standing. The Tyrannosaurus stared at the scene with wide eyes, its jaw practically hitting the ground.
"Get lost!"
"Y-yes! Sorry to disturb you!" The dinosaur-like monster spun around and bolted, leaving Dino with a confused expression.
"Wait, you can actually talk?!"
He shook his head. There were plenty of talking monsters in the magical world. Happy was a cat who could speak, after all. He needed to be more careful when selecting training locations. This place had mountains, water, forests, and abundant food. It was an ideal training ground. He tossed his luggage aside.
"Time to warm up!"
Dino started simple stretching exercises, then channeled magic through his entire body and stomped the ground. "BOOM!" A crater appeared beneath him as his body rocketed into the air. "Bang, bang, bang!" Dino kept kicking off the air itself, his body climbing higher and higher. After reaching a certain altitude, he began throwing punches and launching kicks, knees, and elbows, each strike sending out pale white shockwaves.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!…"
When Dino unleashed his abilities without restraint, the monsters in the life zone suffered. Though only a fraction of his attacks actually reached the ground, it was nearly apocalyptic for the creatures below. They all shrieked and fled as if the world was ending.
After venting to his heart's content, Dino finally felt satisfied. He spread his arms wide and let himself fall from the sky in freefall.
Just before hitting the ground, "Buzz!" A pale white transparent halo spread outward.
"BOOM!"
The earth cracked as Dino's body rapidly decelerated in midair. He flipped gracefully and landed firmly on his feet.
"Perfect!!!"