Erza had always thought Darius was just a normal person, but her perception of him quickly changed.
Darius is so powerful!
The speed with which he disappeared and reappeared left her stunned. She couldn't track his movements at all. The feat was so impressive, Erza didn't even dare to think she could match it.
Incredible.
Her eyes glowed as she continued watching.
"Shave!"
Darius disappeared once more. When he returned to his standing position, he seemed to have a better understanding of his own strength. He was ready to stop warming up and get serious.
"Gramps, I'm serious now. If you're not prepared, you'd better leave before you get hurt," Darius warned, his expression calm but focused.
Makarov, though exceptionally strong, had been caught off guard by Darius's earlier attack. His previous punch had been nearly at full strength, but Darius hadn't even flinched. Though Makarov didn't show it, his face betrayed a hint of discomfort. Even Darius felt some pain in his fist—the impact had been like hitting steel, though his tolerance was high.
"Alright, kid. Let's see what you've got," Makarov replied, though there was a subtle bitterness in his voice. If this was just a warm-up, I can't imagine what's coming next.
Suddenly, Darius kicked his legs, launching several crescent-shaped energy slashes toward Makarov.
Makarov cursed inwardly.
This kid wasn't holding back at all.
In a flash, Makarov's body shifted, and he raised his right hand, extending his index finger. A yellow light erupted, intercepting the energy slashes with a loud crash.
Boom!
The energy clash sent shockwaves through the air. But Darius wasn't done.
"Shave!"
He disappeared again, reappearing right in front of Makarov, his hands poised in attack.
"Finger Gun!"
Darius's hands moved like blurs, stabbing at Makarov in rapid succession. Each strike was precise, aiming for vital spots.
Makarov's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in pain as he fought to resist the barrage of attacks. The strikes sent sharp stabs of pain throughout his body, testing his endurance.
Seizing an opening, Makarov clenched his fist and swung it toward Darius with a mighty blow. His fist expanded, growing as large as an iron cauldron, aiming to crush Darius in a single hit.
Darius saw the massive fist coming toward him and immediately crossed his arms in front of his body.
"Iron!"
In an instant, Darius's body turned rigid, his form covered in a layer of steel-like reinforcement.
Boom!
The collision rang out like a bell, the sound of metal against metal echoing in the air. The force of the punch sent Darius skidding backward, his feet digging into the ground.
Darius shook his arms, surprised. As expected of Makarov, the "Holy Ten"—even the physical strength he's using is beyond what I can match right now.
His arms tingled with the aftereffects of the impact. On the other side, Makarov was looking down at his torn clothes. Though there were no open wounds, red marks appeared where he had been struck, and some areas had already started to bruise.
"Little devil, you really are something," Makarov said, his tone a mix of admiration and exasperation. "With more hard work, you'll become an S-rank mage in no time. Are all the kids this strong these days?"
If Makarov hadn't reacted as quickly, he might have truly been in trouble. He was beginning to rethink sparring with someone like Darius in the future.
"I'm just looking for a place to stay. Becoming an S-rank mage is not my goal," Darius replied with a lighthearted grin.
Erza, who had been quietly observing, now stepped forward. She looked at Darius with a mix of awe and admiration. "You're amazing, Darius. You're only 12 years old, but you're already so strong."
Though the sparring session hadn't left Makarov seriously injured, it was clear from his pained expression that he wasn't happy about being outdone by a boy so young.
Erza's respect for Darius grew. She had always thought him ordinary, but now she saw him in an entirely new light.
Darius chuckled at Erza's words. "You're still younger than me. You should probably call me 'brother' instead," he teased.
Erza's ears turned red at the remark, but she quickly stepped back, trying to hide her embarrassment. Darius caught the blush in her cheeks and smiled to himself. Erza's pretty cute when she's flustered.
"Well, let's head back," Makarov suggested. "The sparring is over for today."
Both Darius and Erza nodded in agreement, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
After packing his things, Darius followed Makarov home, the three of them walking together, their conversation light and filled with the promise of new beginnings.