In the far north of Fiore, in a small border town, a boy about twelve or thirteen years old sat on a wooden bed inside a stone-built room, gazing blankly out the window at the falling snow.
Ethan never imagined, even in his wildest dreams, that he would transmigrate. Yet through the memories of the body's former owner, he understood clearly he had arrived in the world of Fairy Tail.
This was a world where magic and guilds shaped everything. To master magic was to become a mage.
But guilds themselves were formed from the gathering of countless mages.
At first, finding himself in such a magical world filled Ethan with excitement. After all, gaining control over extraordinary power was the dream of countless people. But soon, reality struck him with a cruel shock.
His body was unable to absorb magic particles.
Without absorbing magic particles, he couldn't generate magic power, which meant the profession of mage was forever beyond his reach. To transmigrate into a world of magic, only to discover he couldn't use it this was absurd.
Because of this flaw, Ethan's previous life as the body's original owner had been full of whispers and mockery. After all, his parents had both been mages.
Thinking of this, Ethan sighed and stroked the book in his hands. It was the only relic left behind by his parents, a manual that recorded a beginner-level ice spell. But unfortunately, it was useless to him.
"Alas, the days ahead won't be easy," Ethan murmured. Still, at least his parents had left him with enough money that survival would not be a problem for the time being.
But the world of Fairy Tail was an extremely dangerous place. A single mage could easily kill groups of ordinary people, and magical beasts sometimes wandered close to human settlements.
Just as Ethan was sinking into despair about his bleak future, a mechanical-sounding voice suddenly rang out in his mind.
"Ding! System activation successful. The Immortal Arts System is now officially bound to the host!"
"System?" Ethan froze for a moment, then his expression slowly shifted into delight. At last, a chance had appeared.
A golden finger?
Trying hard to suppress the excitement in his chest, Ethan quickly asked about the system's functions.
Under the system's detailed explanation, he gradually understood the basics of this so-called Immortal Arts System.
The Immortal Arts System allowed him to take the magic of the Fairy Tail world and directly exchange it for immortal arts through the system.
Of course, the exchange wasn't as simple as naming a spell at random. It required a complete understanding of that magic's core principles.
For example, if it was Dragon Slayer Magic, Ethan would first need to fully master the profound essence of the technique before the system would allow him to exchange it.
Each magic could be exchanged for an immortal art of the same element, but one far stronger.
Most importantly, once Ethan obtained an immortal art, he would master it instantly.
Not only that after learning an immortal art, his very body would transform into an immortal physique, capable of absorbing the tiny magic particles in the air and refining them into a unique energy: immortal magic power.
Every time he mastered a new immortal art, the total amount of magic power in his body would also increase.
After finishing his understanding of the system's abilities, Ethan turned his gaze toward the book in his hand.
He did not forget that this book contained all the information about a beginner-level Ice-element spell.
"System, convert this magic into an immortal art for me!" Ethan thought, eyes filled with anticipation.
"Ding! Detecting low-level Ice-element magic: Ice Crystal Crack. Beginning exchange…"
"Ding! Exchange successful!"
"Congratulations to the host for obtaining the low-level immortal art: Profound Ice Crack!"
[Profound Ice Crack: A low-level immortal art. Guided by the host's will, profound ice can be shaped into countless forms to attack. Upon striking the enemy, it can also instantly detonate, releasing countless ice blades to deliver a devastating second strike.]
The detailed description of Profound Ice Crack appeared in Ethan's mind. At the same time, a warm, powerful energy surged through his body.
It felt as if a great gate had been thrown open before him the threshold separating mortal from immortal.
Feeling this new force within, Ethan grew curious. "So this is magic power?"
With a slight thought, he directed the energy into his right fist, then struck at the stone wall beside him.
Boom!
The thick stone wall shattered, leaving a hole half the size of an adult. Snowflakes rushed in through the opening, carried by a biting wind.
Yet although the cold wind howled into the room, Ethan, wrapped in magic power, felt not the slightest chill.
His right hand, which had smashed through solid stone, didn't ache at all.
A mage could circulate magic power throughout their body, reinforcing every part and shielding against harm.
It strengthened the body, enhanced physical strength, and allowed one to resist both heat and cold.
But judging from what he had just experienced, magic power seemed even stronger than he had imagined.
The thought stirred his heart. If ordinary magic power could achieve this much, then immortal arts must be even more incredible.