Magnolia Town.
Outside the Fairy Tail Guild.
Facing the massive building standing opposite the Kardia Cathedral, isolated from the rest of Magnolia Town, an indescribable feeling surged in the hearts of the sibling trio.
Mirajane and her siblings were filled with awe: "It's so big...."
Not just big, but it refreshed their understanding.
Though they had passed many towns along the way, only by standing in front of the Fairy Tail Guild could they feel the impact of this building.
Gaal stood in front of the grand doors, his expression relaxed as he took a step forward.
Boom!
Mirajane and her siblings widened their eyes suddenly as a booming voice full of energy came from inside: "Gaal! Don't learn those bad habits from Gildarts, the doors are expensive!"
Then came voices of cheerful surprise from inside:
"Gaal, man!"
"Hahaha, this kid Gaal, causing trouble again."
"These doors were just broken by Gray a few days ago."
"Yo, Gaal."
Gaal nodded with a smile, looking at Makarov and casually saying: "It's okay, I held back my strength. Speaking of which, let's welcome the new members, Guild Master."
Saying this, Gaal stepped aside slightly, and Mirajane, along with her siblings, introduced themselves nervously:
"Hello."
"My name is Mirajane Strauss."
"I'm Lisanna Strauss."
"I'm Elfman Strauss."
Everyone greeted them warmly.
Makarov nodded with satisfaction, praising: "They seem like good kids. Finally, some who won't give me a headache."
Makarov spoke with a tone that was both relieved and wistful.
Gaal led the three inside, where members greeted Mirajane and her siblings. Overwhelmed by the sudden warmth, the siblings followed Gaal to the guild's counter.
Curious, Gaal asked: "Didn't I give you some advice last time? Did Erza manage to tame them?"
Over at the bar, Cana poured a few glasses of juice and handed them over. The siblings took them and thanked her, then listened curiously to Gaal and Makarov's conversation.
Erza? Sounds like she's a girl. Is she strong?
Makarov, not in a good mood, replied: "You have the nerve to ask, no matter how hard Erza tries, she's only been learning magic for a few months. And her Requip Magic isn't that strong in the early stages. As for Laxus, there's no need to mention, his Lacrima training has already resulted in a 1.3x augmentation.
As for those two who defy everything, Gray and Lyon—well, their Ice Magic has become stronger, and not even Erza could handle them. The others aren't much trouble. Evergreen is becoming more cheerful. But just those three little ones are enough to give me a headache. The doors were just broken by Gray and Lyon a few days ago."
Gaal scratched his head, suggesting: "Well.... But it's not much of a problem, I'm bringing you a new great member."
Saying this, he pointed at Mirajane, who seemed to be about the same age as Erza: "Mirajane, she has awakened Take Over Magic, currently receiving the Satan Soul, which grants incredible speed, power, and massive Magic Power. In terms of battle, Laxus, Gray, and Lyon might not stand a chance against her."
When Mirajane fully channels Satan Soul, she becomes a warrior with high attack, high defense, and high speed. Laxus, Gray, and Lyon, though their magic is strong, cannot match the physical prowess of Mirajane when she is fully in her demon form.
During their first battle, they would likely be caught off guard and overpowered.
As Gaal explained, Mirajane activated her magic: "Take Over: Satan Soul."
A Magic Circle lit up beneath Mirajane's feet, unleashing a surge of powerful Magic Power. She appeared before everyone with demon wings, a thick tail, and demon claws.
Snap!
Mirajane's tail moved, creating a sonic boom.
Makarov's eyes brightened: "Strong Magic Power indeed, enough to handle those boys."
Everyone in the guild hall gawked at the sight, then erupted with starry-eyed cheers:
"Incredible!"
"That's so cool!"
"Macao! I'm in love!!"
"Hey, hey, Wakaba, you're already married, what sort of joke is this? And besides, she's just a kid, have some decency!"
"I don't care! If I could date Mira.... ah~~~"
"You idiot! Snap out of it! Purple Net!!!"
"Aaaaah!!!"
The guild, which had been lively, suddenly devolved into chaos as more and more joined the fray.
Mirajane showed an awkward smile, looking at the two: "This...."
Gaal seemed unfazed, while Makarov, rubbing his temples, said: "Nothing to worry about, these guys are always like this. Let me handle your guild registration first. Where do you want the guild stamp?"
Mirajane deactivated her transformation and thought for a moment before suggesting: "Left thigh, please."
Lisanna raised her hand quickly: "I want mine on the left thigh too!"
Elfman scratched his head: "As for me... on the neck, I guess."
Soon, the Fairy Tail insignia was stamped on the skin of all three.
Gaal drained his juice, then rose: "Guild Master, I'll let you take care of them for now, I need to head back."
Makarov shook his head and said: "You... Go ahead. Come by tonight. I need to talk to you."
Gaal nodded, a Magic Circle illuminating under his feet: "Alright~"
Swoosh!
He disappeared instantly.
---
Magnolia Town.
Deep in the West Forest, at Gengar's Training Ground.
Having been away for months, the area had accumulated some grass and fallen leaves, but was otherwise unchanged.
Gaal pressed the Poke Ball at his waist, and Gengar emerged to land on the ground.
Recognizing its base, Gengar immediately spun its trident, causing Black Holes to appear, from which Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar swarmed and joyously flew around.
Gaal clapped his hands and smiled: "Alright, you can play later. First, we have some work to do."
Gaal began to pour out everything he had collected over the past year or more, ever since he defeated Deliora. Most of it came from defeating various Dark Guilds in recent months.
Instantly, a small hill, the size of a soccer field, appeared in the training ground.
Even after clearing out a warehouse full, this was the result. Looking at the materials, Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar were quite amazed.
Gaal clicked his tongue and instructed: "Sort these materials by their attributes."
Following Gaal's command, hundreds of Gastly and Haunter, along with a dozen Gengar, swarmed over, using Psychic Power to sort through the pile, tossing out Dark attribute materials onto a separate area.
Gaal stood in front of the materials, channeling the Dark attribute ones that were useless into the system to refine into Essence to repair the system, while setting aside those that were useful.
Minutes later, thanks to the efforts of the clan of Ghost-type Pokemon, the Dark attribute materials had mostly been sorted out. Gaal used Psychic Power to pick up a Dark attribute plate.
Although it exuded a dense Dark aura, a probe using Magic Power revealed nothing unusual inside.
Gaal simply threw it into the System Space for refinement.
Suddenly.
Gaal sensed a disturbance within the System Space: "Hmm?"
His consciousness dove into the System Space, where he saw that the Dark attribute stone, instead of being refined like the others, began to glow, cracks forming on its surface, a Magic Circle appearing soon after.
"Is this... a Sealing Magic Array?"
Unlike the current Sealing Magic of Ishgar, the only conclusion from the aura it emitted was that it was a sealing method from some earlier era.
The scene indicated that the System Space had disrupted the seal during the refinement process.
Whatever was inside was trying to break free.
But Gaal felt no concern and simply watched curiously. A few seconds later.
With a burst of light, the stone shattered, the sealing Magic Circle vanishing completely.
A powerful Demon aura surged forth, accompanied by maniacal cackling: "Ahahaha! Damn you, Chronos! I, the Plague Demon God, have.... Ahhh!!! Damn it! What is this place?! Stop, I command...."
The so-called Plague Demon God, who had been cackling madly just moments before, was instantly refined into Essence upon entering the System Space.
Unlike the complex Sealing Magic, whose destruction had taken several seconds, the soul of this Plague Demon God didn't even have time to mount a defense before being wholly absorbed.
His conjured shields only lasted moments, soul and shield alike consumed.
Gaal pondered deeply.
Chronos?
An ancient existence?
No wonder the Magic Arrays were so different from current ones in every regard.
He remembered Chronos was the Time Deity in the world of Fairy Tail, unlike that Ankhseram Deity responsible for the curse that made Zeref immortal.
The spirit of this Time Deity could be received by Dimaria Yesta, one of the Shield of Spriggan of the Alvarez Empire, implying it's already deceased.
It might be worth exploring how to obtain it.
To examine what this so-called Time Deity's spirit truly is.
As the Plague Demon God's soul was refined.
The system's repair progress significantly advanced, unexpectedly unlocking a new section titled [Fruit Exchange].
Gaal's eyes lit up, his consciousness diving inside.
He was greeted with a list of hundreds of fruits, most appearing as black statues of fruits, much like inactive Pokémon Origin statues.
Only the first twenty or so fruits were illuminated, each with a name and description:
[Plague Fruit (Top Grade Fruit): 300,000 Points.]
[Virus Fruit (Upper Grade Fruit): 200,000 Points.]
[Poison Poison Fruit (Upper Grade Fruit): 200,000 Points.]
[Sickness Fruit (Mid Grade Fruit): 150,000 Points.]
[Flu Fruit (Mid Grade Fruit): 120,000 Points.]
[Fever Fruit (Low Grade Fruit): 70,000 Points.]
...
...
[Sensation Fruit (Top Grade Fruit): 400,000 Points.]
[Pain Fruit (Upper Grade Fruit): 200,000 Points.]
...
So expensive... and useless since he already mastered Pain Intensity Magic.
Among all the 20 fruits, as Gaal's thoughts flowed, a surge of knowledge unexpectedly filled his mind. He understood these abilities were extracted from the Plague Demon God.
To activate other fruits, similar Demonic Souls must be gathered, or corresponding abilities need to be collected from other worlds to construct them.
Additionally, collecting the upper grade fruit automatically unlocks the lower grade one.
For instance, acquiring the Year-Year Fruit unlocks the Day-Day and Rewind Fruit since the Year-Year Fruit is the superior form, capable of future vision or rewind abilities.
But... how does one travel to other worlds?
The thought flashed in Gaal's mind.
In the next moment.
Information flashed into his consciousness.