Chapter 1: One Punch to Shatter the Mage's Dream
The lush forest basked in golden sunlight streaming through the gaps in the canopy above, scattering flecks of light across the ground. The scent of grass and soil filled the warm summer air. Insects chirped and birds sang, blending into a symphony of nature.
In the center of a small clearing—purposefully flattened and cleared—two boys stood facing each other, several meters apart.
Tall green trees formed a natural circle around the clearing. Beneath the shade, one man, two women, and a dog sat watching quietly, their eyes focused on the magical duel about to unfold between the boys.
The two challengers couldn't have looked more different. One was a black-haired boy, his slicked-back hair styled like an adult's, save for one playful strand that dangled over his forehead. Handsome and neatly dressed in black martial attire, he gave off a sharp, capable aura.
The other had wild, spiky hair dyed a striking cherry blossom pink. He wore a black-and-white checkered scarf around his neck, a bright red long-sleeved shirt, and baggy tan shorts—an outfit that screamed chaos and energy.
"I'm strong, Moen! Don't underestimate me!"
The pink-haired boy, Natsu, took a combat stance, his wild grin brimming with reckless excitement. Sparks crackled from his body—clearly a battle maniac through and through.
"Bring it on, Natsu. Let's see which is stronger—your Dragon Slayer magic, or my Celestial Fist."
Moen, the black-haired boy, smirked as he assumed a peculiar stance—knees slightly bent, legs apart, right fist drawn back at the waist, left arm extended like a rearing stallion.
"RAAAAHHH!!"
With a fiery roar, Natsu surged forward. Flames erupted over his fists, burning with an intense heat yet not harming him in the slightest. In his hands, the fire obeyed.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
He charged like a blazing dragon, fist trailing flames. Though he was only a fledgling dragon, the force of his attack carried real weight.
But Moen stood calm and unshaken. His hands began to blur as he traced mysterious shapes in the air—gestures that stirred the surrounding magic like constellations shifting in the night sky.
"Pegasus Meteor Fist!"
A glowing star chart flashed into existence between Moen's palms. In the next moment, he struck—an explosion of glowing fist shadows burst forth in a stampede of light.
The barrage resembled a herd of charging horses, its power completely overwhelming Natsu's flaming assault. Even the firelight from Natsu's fists was drowned beneath the brilliance.
BOOM!
Natsu was launched like a broken kite, crashing hard to the ground. He lay motionless, flames on his body flickering out. He hadn't even touched Moen—his dream of landing a punch evaporated in an instant.
There was no contest. Natsu couldn't even follow Moen's fists, much less block them. The gap in power was painfully clear.
"My punch packs twelve—cough, twenty—years of training. Not something you can just tank, Natsu. You've got a long way to go."
Moen lowered his fists and shook his index finger, offering a brutally honest critique.
This level? Nowhere near worthy of being called a "rival."
So this was "Dragon Slayer Magic," a legendary power said to be created for hunting dragons? Compared to his fists, it was sorely lacking.
The legendary Dragon Slayer Magic, said to be created specifically to hunt dragons, was… underwhelming. Definitely no match for his fists.
Moen was a transmigrator—from modern-day world. He'd only been reborn into this world, Earth Land, for twelve years—and hadn't even turned twelve yet.
Unlike Earth, Earth Land was brimming with magical energy. Here, magic was woven into daily life. There were magic shops, magic trades, and guilds that offered mages paid work across the continents.
Moen had grown up in one of those guilds: Fairy Tail. He was a magic apprentice now.
But unlike others, his magic was… unique. After mastering the basics of mana meditation, he taught himself everything else. His abilities didn't come from traditional spellbooks.
His magic came from a system.
Just as luck would have it, Moen's system had triggered a mission the moment Natsu challenged him—and the reward was simply too tempting to refuse. With a smile, Moen had no choice but to shatter Natsu's mage dreams with a punch.
[Mission: "The Fire Dragon's Provocation"]
Mission Details:
A new recruit has arrived at the guild—Natsu, an S-Class Mage known as the "Fire Dragon." He's immensely powerful and destined to become a key figure in this world's future.
But he made one critical mistake—he challenged you, a senior member of the Fairy Tail guild!
Defeat him! Show him who the strongest in Fairy Tail really is!
Mission Status: Complete.
Mission Reward: Random Bronze Cloth (Saint Armor).
Claim reward?
Moen had long since gotten used to how vague these system prompts could be.
In truth, Natsu wasn't an S-Class mage. He wasn't called the "Fire Dragon" by anyone, nor had he really challenged Moen. And as for Moen being a guild elder or the strongest in Fairy Tail? That was pure fiction. He had only arrived in this world less than twelve years ago and had only begun training in magic a few years back—hardly enough to rival veteran wizards.
The title of S-Class Mage wasn't just handed out like candy. It was the highest recognition of a mage's power within the guild—an honor that couldn't be faked.
Moen's system, the [Saint Seiya System] , occasionally issued quests. Completing them granted rewards—all tied to the Saint Seiya universe. These might be special items, powerful skills, or even Saint Cloth armor.
For example, his iconic move, Pegasus Meteor Fist, came from a beginner's reward pack—it was also the only "magic" he could use.
Although he possessed excellent magical potential, Moen was unable to cast any conventional spells. All he could do was use the skills granted by the system. That's why he had to self-study from the very beginning.
Fortunately, Moen didn't mind. After all, he was wielding the power of a Saint! The Pegasus Meteor Fist! That alone was reason enough to walk a path all his own.
While he hadn't yet awakened the power of the "Cosmos" within, the system had localized the skills for this world—his Pegasus Meteor Fist could be fueled with regular magic energy.
Sure, it wasn't the god-slaying force he remembered from the anime, but it wasn't weak either. It made sense—after all, even Seiya's Meteor Fist had grown stronger only after countless battles and near-death fights.
It would probably take fully awakening the Cosmos to unleash the true power of the Pegasus technique. Magic, while adaptable, just wasn't on the same level yet.
So despite having the Saint Seiya System, Moen's road as a mage hadn't become easier—in fact, it was even harder. For now, he had to rely solely on raw magic and fist techniques. He was, in every sense, a pure martial artist.
[Claim Reward?]
The system prompt popped up again, ignoring Moen's mental grumbling.
Naturally, Moen clicked [Claim] without hesitation. Regardless of how absurd the mission description was, the rewards were undeniably juicy.
All he had to do was beat Natsu, and he'd receive a Bronze Cloth? These kinds of vague missions? Yes, please—bring more!
Though... he couldn't help but worry—what if the Bronze Cloth had also been "localized"?
BZZZZT!
A blinding light flared, forcing Moen to shield his eyes. When he peeked through the glow, he saw the shimmering shape of armor materializing—shaped like a horse, radiating a soft bronze glow.
A Pegasus Cloth?!
Could it be?
Excitement surged through Moen. It all lined up! First, he got the Pegasus Meteor Fist from his newbie pack—and now a Bronze Cloth shaped like a horse?
That could only mean it was the Pegasus Bronze Cloth!
As the light faded, the armor revealed itself in full. It indeed resembled a horse, complete with a pair of small wings.
Saint Cloths had two forms—one, their symbolic constellation form (like the winged horse before him), and the other, their armor form when worn.
Seeing the shape of the constellation, Moen was certain—this had to be the Pegasus Cloth! He was all set!
[Congratulations! You've unlocked the Pony Bronze Cloth!]
Moen stared at the system message. His smile froze.
Wait, what?
Pony... Bronze Cloth?
What the hell is that?!