Chapter 14: Blaze — Formation of the Strongest Team and the Ten-Year Quest (1)
Year X781, early winter.
Inside the guild, Erza, clad in armor, was locked in a heated argument with a group of overgrown juvenile delinquents—who had clearly grown in size but not maturity, dressed in funky outfits.
"Erza! Today's the day I finally beat you to a pulp!"
"Hmph, it hasn't even been that long since you became an S-Class, and you're already picking fights again? Very well. If it's a duel you want, I'll gladly oblige."
The two girls stared each other down, sparks flying as tension crackled in the air.
Watching them, the other guild members were anything but concerned—in fact, they were eagerly placing bets.
"Ooh! A fight! A fight!"
"Erza's current record is 32 wins. Mirajane's got 31 wins and 5 draws. Statistically, Erza's got the better chance."
"I'm putting 20,000 Jewels on Erza!"
"I'll take Mirajane! That's 20,000 on her! Natsu, don't even think about asking me to pay you back if you lose."
"Hah! You better not regret this, Gray!"
Rather than stopping the fight, the guild members only egged it on.
Mirajane's younger siblings, Elfman and Lisanna, simply watched the scene from their table, looking resigned to it.
It had been two years since Ciel became an S-Class wizard.
In that time, both Erza and Mirajane had, one year apart, passed the S-Class promotion exam and become core powerhouses of Fairy Tail.
Master and Ciel had hoped that with new S-Class wizards added to the ranks, their own workload might lighten—but those dreams were dashed when the "comet-like" duo of Erza and Mirajane kept getting into spats that ended with half the town in ruins.
The root of it all was Mirajane, who—still seeing Erza as her rival—often picked fights with her, frustrated that Erza had earned the S-Class title a year earlier.
And so the endless scuffles began.
Compared to these two, Natsu and Gray's constant bickering seemed almost cute.
Now, Erza drew her sword.
Mirajane transformed her arm with Satan Soul, revealing a glimpse of demonic power.
The two faced off, neither willing to make the first move—
Until…
"Fighting again, are we?"
"Ciel?!"
"C-Ciel… You're back?"
"Yes. I just finished the job from the Magic Council—repairing the damage you two caused in Frezia Village—and got back just now."
The guild doors had opened, and there stood Ciel.
At the sight of him, both Erza and Mirajane froze in place like statues, their faces going pale.
The same was true for the guild members who had egged them on and placed bets.
Ciel glanced around at the situation and sighed, releasing a thin mist from his body.
"You all seem to be enjoying this little brawl.
Shall I join in?"
As he extended his hand and began to shape the mist into a spear, panic broke out among the guild.
"C-Ciel! Stop! Please, anything but that!"
"E-Erza! Let's call it a draw! A draw, okay?!"
"Y-Yeah! Fighting's no good, after all! So calm down, Ciel!"
"WOOOO! Bring it on, Ciel! I'm gonna take you down and become the strongest in the guild!"
"Natsu! Read the room, would you?!"
Everyone rushed to stop Ciel, but Natsu's reckless provocation only made him smile—a chilling, skin-crawling kind of smile.
"Kufufufufu… It seems some of you are in dire need of punishment. Allow me to give you a taste of nightmare's edge."
"Noooo! Don't do iiiiiit!"
And with that, a pale violet mist swept across the entire guild…
Swallowing everyone in an instant.
...
"Ugh… uuugh… So dizzy… I think I'm gonna be sick…"
"F-Fish… One fish… two fish… no, wait—shark?!"
"I'm a man… I'M A MAN! I have no interest in dressing like a girl!!!"
"Wh-What…?! Mira-nee! Elf-onii… NO! Not that!"
"It's hot… Ice Make—OW, that's burning!"
"Female Ciels… one… two… three… f-four… F-Five?!"
All across the floor, guild members lay sprawled out, groaning and suffering from their own personal nightmares.
I let out a long, weary sigh.
Just how much do these people love fighting…?
Honestly.
I know it's all friendly rivalry, but I really wish they'd consider how it feels to be the one dragged before the Magic Council, getting scolded while also cleaning up after their messes.
It's been four years since I joined Fairy Tail.
The year after I became an S-Class wizard, as expected, Erza was chosen as a candidate for the next exam.
Drawing from her experience, she passed as the sole qualifier that year and joined me as a fellow S-Class wizard—more or less becoming my junior.
She was always responsible and driven, so with her help assisting in Council missions, my own workload gradually began to ease.
For about… a year.
That peace didn't last long.
This past summer, Mira made her explosive rise to S-Class, and any freedom I had vanished.
Now that both were S-Class, they constantly butted heads—and nearly every request turned into a competition between the two, often ending with entire towns in ruins.
And who had to take the heat for that?
Me.
As Master's stand-in, I'd get summoned to the Council for lectures, and then get handed the dark guild purge requests they couldn't be bothered to handle themselves.
Months of this…
Now, even Master, Gildarts, and Laxus have started throwing around my name as the guild's next potential Master.
But me?
I just want to live freely, peacefully, enjoying a calm life before the next great battle inevitably comes.
But no one around me ever leaves me alone.
Sigh… Why do these kids cause trouble every single time…?
I gently lifted up the unconscious Mira and Erza, placing them at the same table in slouched positions.
They're grown now—fully adults—but they still act like overgrown children.
It's fine to have youthful passion and energy, but I really wish they'd occasionally consider how it feels for their poor guardian.
"…Still, I suppose I don't really dislike them."
Maybe this constant clashing is just proof they're getting closer.
I gave a tired smile as I looked at the two.
After watching over them for a while, I turned and made my way upstairs to the second floor of the guild.
I had just gotten back from a mission, but instead of filing a request report, Master had summoned all the other S-Class wizards—except Erza and Mira—for a meeting.
It was about time everyone gathered.
"I really hope this isn't another Council job…"
As I walked up the stairs, I absorbed the mist that had spread across the guild—along with everyone's nightmares.
That should let them all sleep peacefully for a while…
without dreams.
The meeting room on the second floor of Fairy Tail.
As I opened the door and stepped inside, Laxus, who had apparently been waiting, greeted me alongside the Master, a cigarette hanging from his lips.
"Ciel. You're back."
"Yes, Master. I've just returned after completing the request."
"Hmph! I was the first one here, you know! I beat you to it!"
"Kufufufu… Is that so? It's been a while, Laxus."
"I've gotten even stronger. I'd love to test myself against you right now, but… I guess now's not the time."
That Laxus—who always picked a fight with me whenever we met—was holding back for once?
It made me raise an eyebrow.
Then the meeting room door suddenly slammed open with a loud bang, and in walked Gildarts, his beard wilder than ever. No one knew where he'd been for the past two years.
"Yo~! Long time no see, everyone! When I got back to the guild, everyone was passed out asleep. That your doing, Ciel?"
"I just gave a little scolding to a few troublemakers who were fond of destroying property. They should wake up by the time we're done here. And you, Gildarts, seem as carefree as ever."
"Come on, you know that's just how I am.
How've you been, Laxus?"
"Old man, you're the last one to arrive. Would it kill you to come in quietly for once?"
"Hey—! Ciel, can't you do something about this punk? You're his senior, aren't you?! Teach him some manners!"
"…Honestly, right now, you're the one I'd rather educate first. Shall we finish that match we never completed back during the guild trials?"
"…No thanks. I'm sick of fighting you."
It was the first time in nearly two years that all the S-Class wizards had gathered together, and for a moment, we just caught up with one another.
Then the Master cleared his throat and drew our attention with a serious expression.
"Ahem…! I know it's good to reunite like this after so long, but I didn't call this meeting for small talk. Everyone, take a seat."
"Yes, sir."
"Ahhh~ Geez, calling us out of nowhere for work…
You're one demanding old man, you know that?"
Normally, the Master would've snapped back at Gildarts for a comment like that, but this time, he remained solemn—so even Gildarts obediently took his seat.
Once we were all seated, the Master activated a projection lacrima, and an image appeared in the darkened room.
On screen, a giant rock-covered whale was seen tearing through a town, its massive jaw swallowing people whole.
Its crimson eyes gleamed as it swam through the earth, and the wreckage of countless human bodies could be seen caught in its jagged teeth.
Gildarts and Laxus scowled at the horrific footage and turned to the Master.
"What the hell is that, old man?"
"Master, that thing is…?"
The Master said nothing at first—just bowed his head slightly, let out a deep breath, and began speaking again.
"The reason I've summoned the three of you—is to assign a request that's remained unresolved for the past ten years: the subjugation of the ancient magical biological weapon, 'Badrach Whale.'"
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