All I ever wanted was freedom—to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.
But that's all it really was—a wish. No one's ever truly free. I guess I'd been living in that illusion my whole life. And honestly? I was fine with it. A loving family, good grades, solid diplomas, and a stable job that paid well in the end.
But for what?
"I'm so bored," I sighed, wrapping up another day of work.
I swiped my badge at the exit and stepped outside, stretching a little as the doors shut behind me. Just eight more hours to get through this week, and I'd finally be free—at least until Monday rolled around.
Day in, day out. Same routine, same cycle. I was only twenty-one, but I felt like I'd already lived this life a thousand times. The only real escape came from games, novels, and binge-watching whatever series kept me distracted.
I stood at the crosswalk, staring blankly at the red light, waiting for it to turn green so I could cross. The street was quiet, barely anyone around. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, lost in thought.
The light flicked over, and I stepped forward—too caught up in my own head to notice the faint rumble of the truck speeding around the corner. By the time I looked up, it was too late.
Everything blinked out in an instant.
'Fuck my life' was my last thought as darkness consumed me.
–
'Is this… heaven?' I thought, glancing around.
The air felt almost too clean, and the clearing stretched out around me like something from a painting—vibrant and peaceful. The trees around me were striking, their leaves a deep crimson that almost glowed under the sunlight. I stared at them for a moment, then caught a glimpse of myself in a small pool of water nearby.
I looked the same—same face, same clothes. But something about this place felt off.
My eyes drifted to one of the trees. The bark was a bright, unnatural shade of red. It stood out, too much. 'That's… weird. It'd probably look better brown', I thought absently.
Before I could process the thought, the bark darkened, shifting into a rich brown right before my eyes.
I froze. Wait… what?
My heart thudded as I stepped back, staring at the tree. It didn't change again, but the other trees—still crimson—swayed gently, by the wind.
I rubbed my eyes and looked once more. Nothing shifted. It was real.
Okay…
Did I just think that… and it happened?
I blinked, trying to make sense of it. 'Wait a second.'
'I have a screwdriver in my left hand'
Before I could process it, I felt something in my hand—solid, metallic. I glanced down.
A screwdriver.
I hadn't even thought about it clearly. It just… appeared.
I turned it over a few times, the weight of it feeling completely real.
"Oh… this is really interesting," I muttered, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth.
I had tests to have, if this ability was truly what I thought it was, then in this life, I will be having a lot of fun.
–
"Captain, what could've done this?" one of my squad members asked, his voice uneasy as we stood at the edge of the clearing.
I didn't have an answer. The place felt… wrong.
The Council sent us after a group of mages from Titan's Nose reported strange activity here—something about unfamiliar magic warping the land. I thought it was exaggerated at first, but now that I was here, I wasn't so sure.
The clearing stretched before us, but it wasn't like any clearing I'd seen. The trees towered unnaturally tall, their trunks twisted in spirals like they'd been sculpted by hand. Some bark shimmered silver under the light, while others were shades of blue and crimson, flickering faintly as if the colors couldn't decide what to settle on. The leaves rustled despite the absence of wind, making a soft, eerie hum that seemed to crawl beneath the skin.
Patches of grass glowed faintly underfoot, casting soft golden pools of light, but the flowers scattered among them looked wilted—ashen gray with delicate cracks running along their petals like fine porcelain ready to break. Above, the sky was clear, yet the clouds swirled unnaturally, forming spirals that mimicked the patterns on the trees.
I knelt, brushing my fingers over the grass. It felt warm—too warm. Like the ground itself was alive.
"I don't know," I finally answered, standing up and glancing around. "But whatever did this… it wasn't ordinary magic."
My squad shifted uneasily behind me.
"This feels like something we shouldn't be standing in," another muttered.
"What kind of magic is this?" one of my squad members asked, his eyes fixed on the twisted clearing ahead of us.
I kept my gaze forward, turning the thought over in my head. Plant magic, maybe? Or something older—lost magic that had slipped through the cracks of history.
"I don't know, Geoffroy," I finally replied. This was something new, and new usually meant dangerous. Ishtar didn't need another threat right now.
A faint smile tugged at my lips as I watched the group of white-robed figures approach. They must've stumbled across me during one of my experiments. A week of testing and I was finally starting to understand the edges of my abilities—just a little.
I had overheard the knights talking earlier. They kept mentioning magic, which meant whatever I was using probably fell into that category. Imagination magic, maybe? It made sense. Whatever I thought seemed to shape reality, altering things—living or not.
But even with this power, there were lines I wouldn't cross.
Sure, I could bury someone alive or twist gravity until they couldn't stand, but changing a person's body directly? That was off-limits. I wasn't about to start rewriting people like they were just another part of the landscape.
Some things were too far, even for me.
Altering my body, though? That didn't feel like such a big deal. In fact, I had already reshaped myself to look like Gremmy. It felt more fitting—more immersive. I liked his style, and honestly, the Quincy attire wasn't just cool to look at, it felt good to wear.
As I stood there, the knights' uniforms caught my eye. Something about them seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. I'd read so many stories and watched so much over the years that it all blurred together sometimes. Maybe I'd ended up in some fictional world I'd come across before.
Or maybe this was something entirely new. Either way, I wasn't in a rush to figure it out.
I kept flying, letting my eyes wander over the lush, beautiful landscape stretching out beneath me. The colors were so vibrant, almost unreal. This was my new life now—and I was going to enjoy every second of it.
All the fun I'm going to have… I grinned to myself.
Yeah, this was going to be good.
–
Magnolia was alive with celebration. The Harvest Festival was in full swing, and the streets were packed with laughter, music, and the smell of food. Even the bruised and battered members of Fairy Tail were in high spirits, drinking and feasting together like nothing had happened.
Among the crowd was a shorter man dressed in white, his eyes wide as he watched the parade roll by. Gremmy—that was his name now—stood quietly, taking it all in. The sight of the festival, the energy in the air… it was something he knew he wouldn't forget anytime soon.
As he scanned the crowd, his gaze landed on a familiar figure—a tall, blonde man standing at the edge, tears streaming down his face as he watched the procession.
'Laxus', Gremmy thought, exhaling softly.
Not yet, he told himself, watching the man from afar. 'Your time's coming, but not today. The Oración Seis arc isn't far off… I'll be watching.'
A small smile tugged at his lips.
Let's see how you handle what I imagine next, wizards.
–
"Nirvana…" Gremmy muttered as he gazed down at the vast forest beneath him. A faint smile tugged at his lips, hidden beneath his hood.
Behind him, three figures stood silently, draped in the same white robes he wore.
His eyes flickered with curiosity. This was his stage now, and the wizards below? They were the players. He wanted to see how far they could go—what they were truly capable of when pushed to their limits.
'Maybe I should switch things up for their first fight with Oración Seis… yeah, that could be fun.'
The thought lingered, and Gremmy's smile grew.
Let's see how they handle a little twist.
–
The battle between the Coalition and Oración Seis raged on, spells flying and the ground trembling beneath the clash of magic. Natsu and Gray pushed forward through the smoke and debris, their eyes locked on Racer as he zipped around the battlefield, a blur that taunted them at every turn.
"Damn it, he's too fast!" Gray growled, ice forming around his hands as he tried to anticipate Racer's next move.
"Who cares how fast he is—I'll burn him either way!" Natsu roared, flames igniting around his fists as he lunged forward.
Racer smirked, easily weaving between their attacks. "Too slow, fire boy!" he sneered, appearing just behind Natsu and landing a sharp kick to his back, sending him sprawling.
Gray followed up immediately. "Ice-Make: Lance!" He thrust his arm forward, jagged spears of ice shooting toward Racer.
But Racer was already gone, darting around Gray's attack like it was nothing. "Gonna have to try harder than that!"
Before Racer could strike again, a hand suddenly shot out from behind, gripping his wrist mid-motion. His body froze, eyes widening as he spun to see the hooded figure standing behind him.
"Enough," the figure said calmly, his voice smooth but firm. The three robed individuals that had been descending slowly now hovered just above the battlefield, silent but watching.
Natsu scrambled to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded, glaring at the newcomer.
Gray stepped closer, his ice still crackling at his fingertips.
The robed figure didn't answer. His grip tightened slightly on Racer's wrist, and for the first time since the fight started, Racer looked uneasy.
The two other robed figures vanished—one heading toward the edge, sitting down boredly, the other toward Brain. The smaller figure remained behind, watching quietly.
"Let go of me!" Racer snapped, twisting his body and swinging his leg in a quick, enhanced kick. But before his foot could connect, the man was gone—disappearing in an instant.
Racer's eyes darted around, trying to track him.
"I see," the man's voice echoed from behind, calm but clearly amused. "An interesting trick."
Before Racer could react, he felt an overwhelming force slam into him, like he'd been hit by a mountain. His body flew through the air, the wind rushing past his ears as he spun uncontrollably.
What the hell just hit me?!
As he tumbled, he caught a glimpse of the battlefield below. From his airborne vantage point, he saw Natsu and Gray grunt in pain, both sent sprawling as the same robed figure effortlessly struck them down.
Who… is this guy? Racer thought, panic creeping into his mind. This wasn't part of the plan.
"Thinking now?" the voice came again—this time from behind.
Racer barely had time to process it before he felt his magic kick in, slowing the man's movements. The stranger's fist came toward him, still fast, but not impossibly fast. Racer smirked.
Got you.
He twisted to the side, unleashing a rapid flurry of punches. Each strike landed solidly, driving the man back and sending him crashing toward the ground below. Dust and debris shot up from the impact.
Racer hovered in the air, catching his breath as he watched the spot where the man had landed. "Thought so," he muttered, brushing his hair back.
But the moment of satisfaction didn't last.
"Who are you?!"
Erza's voice cut through the battlefield, sharp and commanding. Racer's eyes snapped toward the source just in time to see the man stand up, dusting himself off like nothing had happened.
The stranger adjusted his long white cape and tugged lightly at his sleeves. His expression was calm—almost bored. A tall, lean man with short black hair and narrow eyes that barely seemed interested in what was happening around him.
He doesn't even look hurt… Racer thought, clenching his fists.
The man slowly glanced toward Erza, then back at Racer, as if deciding who to deal with next.
"Ah, Shimazaki! You actually got hit? You're getting soft!" a loud, mocking voice called out from across the battlefield.
Racer's eyes narrowed as he spotted another robed figure standing casually on a nearby cliff, arms crossed and grinning like this was all a game.
"Shut up, Driscoll," Shimazaki snapped, brushing the dust off his shoulders. "His magic just caught me off guard. That's all." His tone was flat, but the slight crease in his brow showed he wasn't thrilled about it. Without another word, he vanished—blinking out of sight in an instant.
Racer tensed, scanning the area frantically. Where'd he go now?
"You can fight each other later!" Erza's voice rang out, cutting through the tension. Her fierce gaze locked onto both Shimazaki and Racer. "I don't care if you're Oración Seis or not. You attacked Fairy Tail. That makes you our enemy!"
With a burst of speed, Erza charged forward, blades materializing in both hands in a flash of red light.
Racer grinned. Finally. He darted forward to intercept her, his magic flaring around him. "Sorry, Erza, but you're not as fast as me!"
Erza's sword lashed out, but Racer zipped around it, landing a quick strike to her side. She twisted immediately, blocking his next blow with her armored gauntlet. Sparks flew as their clash lit up the battlefield.
Out of the corner of her eye, Erza spotted Shimazaki reappearing, watching the fight unfold with mild interest.
"Stand down, or I'll cut you down next," she warned, not taking her eyes off Racer.
Shimazaki chuckled quietly. "I'd like to see you try."
Before Erza could respond, he vanished again—only to reappear directly behind her. She barely managed to spin around in time to block his incoming fist with crossed swords, the impact forcing her backward several feet.
What was that speed? Erza thought, gritting her teeth as she held her ground.
Racer smirked as he closed the gap once more. "You're tough, Erza, but against the two of us? You're not winning this one."
Erza's eyes flickered between the two opponents circling her.
"Don't underestimate Fairy Tail," she growled, shifting her stance. "I'll take you both on."
"Oh, I think you've got the wrong idea," Shimazaki said with a smirk. His eyes glinted as he casually cracked his knuckles. "We're not teaming up against you, Titania."
He tilted his head, that same cocky grin spreading wider. "I'm taking both of you down."
The air around him shifted, his magic flaring suddenly—wild and violent, like a storm barely being held back.
Erza's grip tightened on her swords, her eyes narrowing.
Racer frowned, glancing toward Shimazaki. "You sure you're not just showing off?"
Before Erza could retort too, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
"Oi, Erza! You're not having all the fun without us!"
Natsu barreled in from the side, flames curling around his fists as he skidded to a stop next to her. Gray followed right behind, cracking his knuckles as frost shimmered around his hands.
"We can't let you handle these guys alone," Gray added, shooting a glance at Shimazaki and Racer.
Erza didn't look away from her opponents but allowed herself a small smirk. "I had it under control."
"Yeah, sure," Natsu grinned, flames flickering brighter. "We're just making sure you don't hog all the action."
Racer's smirk returned as he saw Cobra approaching from the opposite side. The dark mage strode in lazily, arms crossed as his sharp eyes locked onto Natsu.
"Tch. I was wondering when you'd show up," Cobra muttered. "These idiots aren't going down easy."
Racer chuckled. "They never do. That's the fun part."
Shimazaki, still standing calmly, glanced between the two groups. His smile didn't waver. "Ah, good. I was hoping things would get a little more interesting."
Cobra rolled his shoulders, the faint sound of scales shifting under his skin. "Let's see if you're still talking when we're done."
The only noise replying to them was Shimazaki's chuckle
–
"So, you're their master?" The swordsman's voice was calm, almost bored, as he faced Brain.
Brain gritted his teeth. This wasn't going the way he expected. His opponent wasn't just strong—they moved in a way he couldn't follow. Every strike was precise, like they were toying with him.
"Insect!" Brain snarled, raising his staff and pointing it directly at the swordsman. "Dark Capriccio!"
A beam of concentrated darkness erupted from the tip, roaring toward his opponent like a living serpent of shadows.
The swordsman barely reacted.
"I wish I had fought the young woman over there," he said casually, glancing toward where Erza clashed with Racer. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Not you, little wizard."
Before Brain could process what he meant, the beam split cleanly in two—like lightning had struck it mid-air. The two halves sizzled and fizzled out into nothing.
Brain's eyes widened. He hadn't even seen the slash.
The swordsman let out a disappointed sigh, lowering his blade. "You're not really that strong, are you?"
Brain clenched his fists around his staff, sweat forming at his brow. What… what just happened?
The swordsman twirled his blade once, the metal humming faintly as if it was alive. His eyes flicked back to Brain, gleaming with amusement.
"I suggest you start running."
Brain's eyes locked onto the swordsman's arm as it twitched, ready to strike. But before the man could move, the ground beneath him rippled and softened, turning to liquid in an instant. At the same time, his clothes constricted unnaturally, tightening around his body like they were trying to crush him.
"Hoteye. Midnight," Brain muttered, already recognizing his subordinates' handiwork. He didn't even need to glance back.
Without wasting a second, he lifted his staff again. "Dark Capriccio: Scream!"
A crackling beam of dark energy erupted, cutting through the air toward the swordsman, who remained frozen in place, bound by the magic around him.
Brain's smirk deepened. "Let's see you cut through this."
Before the beam could land, a booming voice echoed from the side.
"Ice-Make: Ice Golem!"
A massive ice golem materialized between the beam and the swordsman. Towering and solid, the creature should've been enough to block the attack.
But as soon as the beam made contact, it pierced straight through the golem, shattering it effortlessly.
"What?!" Leon gasped, watching the magic tear past his creation like it was nothing.
Before Brain's beam could strike, another voice cut in.
"Iron Rock Wall!"
Slabs of earth erupted from the ground, stacking layer after layer to intercept the attack. Several of them cracked and crumbled under the pressure, but in the end, the beam dissipated, stopped just short of its target.
Across the battlefield, Jura Neekis stepped forward, his imposing figure unwavering. His sharp gaze locked onto Brain and his guild. "Oración Seis and the strangers in white… By the authority of the Magic Council, you are all under arrest."
For a moment, there was silence—until the white-robed swordsman burst into laughter, loud and carefree.
"Bwahahaha! Arrest us?" Sharrkan's laughter echoed across the battlefield as he shook his head. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But defeating us? Rose Redemption?"
As his laughter died down, the air around him shifted. Magic pulsed outward, shredding the white cloak that draped over his shoulders.
The man beneath it stood tall, lean yet undeniably strong. His skin was dark, contrasting sharply with his medium-length white hair that shifted slightly in the breeze.
His clothes were flashy—an off-the-shoulder white tunic that left most of his upper body exposed, paired with loose white shorts and a wide golden belt that gleamed with every movement. Strapped to his back was a curved sword, its hilt peeking over his shoulder. Gladiator-style sandals wrapped around his legs, giving him the look of someone who didn't just fight for power—he fought to show off.
"Oh wow… I think I'm in love," Sherria sighed dreamily, hearts practically floating in her eyes as she stared at Sharrkan.
Lucy, standing off to the side, glanced at him and felt her face flush slightly. Yeah… he's definitely good-looking. But she quickly shook the thought away. Guys like that? Gorgeous and deadly? That's just asking for trouble.
Lucy folded her arms, narrowing her eyes as she kept her guard up. "Don't let him distract you, Sherria. He looks like the type that gets you killed."
Sharrkan's green eyes gleamed with amusement as he looked at the mages before him, clearly unfazed by the situation.
"Well, let's get to business" he said with a grin, resting a hand casually on his sword's hilt.
"Foraz Saiqa," he said, his sword crackling with electricity as it hummed to life. A grin spread across his face.
"Well then… let's dance." His eyes flicked between the Lamia mages and the dark guild member. "I'll show you what a Vessel can really do."
Without wasting another second, he surged forward, lightning trailing behind him as he charged straight at the Lamia group, that same cocky smile never leaving his face.
–
Well, my puppets are stronger than I thought.
I stood at the edge of the battlefield, watching with quiet satisfaction as my creations clashed with mages from both guilds. They were holding their own—better than I expected to be honest.
But my attention shifted as a dark little angel and a few fools from Blue Pegasus made their way toward me.
"Don't test me," I said softly, my childlike voice stopping them in their tracks.
The silver-haired woman—clearly from the dark guild—only smiled wider, like she found me amusing. What, does she think I'm weaker just because I look like a kid?
I smiled to myself. She's in for a surprise.
She reached for two of her golden keys, but before she could even summon her spirits, the keys flickered and reappeared in my hands.
"Golden keys, huh?" I twirled them between my fingers, glancing at them with mild interest. "Scorpio and Aries… interesting. I didn't expect keys like these from someone like you. And by the way," I added with a playful grin, "getting this worked up? A little dramatic, don't you think?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Kid, give me my keys back before I get angry."
I tilted my head, feigning innocence. "But you already are angry."
"Aries?" a quiet voice suddenly cut in from behind her.
One of the Blue Pegasus mages—slightly more shaken than the others—stepped forward, his eyes locked on the key in my hand.
"Karen's spirit…?" he muttered, his face pale.
Ah, yes. I almost forgot. The connection.
I smiled wider. This was going to be fun.
–
Well that'll be my first chapter of this fic
Don't hesitate to comment, I'll see you soon
Peace !