The next day.
Bang, bang, bang!
Early in the morning, Phoenix heard someone knocking downstairs. It couldn't be Natsu; if it were him, he would have just opened the door and walked in. A key is proof of a home, and while Natsu is a one-track mind, he is very sensitive to the word 'home.' He would probably lose himself before he lost his key.
"Erza... is that you?"
Phoenix opened his sleepy eyes, carefully placed Mavis back in his arms, and pulled the covers over her. Phoenix, still in his pajamas, walked downstairs.
Creak—
Opening the door, Phoenix saw Erza's tense face. He stretched and yawned, then asked, "Is something wrong, Erza?"
"Please teach me swordsmanship, Master!"
Erza bowed formally. Phoenix was momentarily stunned, then accepted it calmly.
"It seems you've thought it over all night."
The laziness on Phoenix's face vanished, and a compelling, powerful aura suddenly pressed down. Erza's expression changed, and she had to circulate all her magic power just to barely resist the Haki Phoenix inadvertently released.
So... so strong! Is this the power of the World's Greatest Swordsman?
Erza was extremely shocked, with not a trace of regret left about her decision.
"Yes!"
Taking a deep breath, Erza said with a serious face, "I want to become stronger! That's all! So, please guide me from now on, Master!"
"Heh, remember that the more skilled is the teacher. Regardless of my age, at least I have walked further than you on the path of the sword. Although I will only teach you for three days, you are much luckier than that child. At least after three days, you can still see me. But her... sigh!"
Shaking his head lightly, Phoenix turned and walked back into the house.
"Come in. I assume you haven't eaten yet. We'll start today's training after you've eaten."
"Yes, Master!"
Although Erza was very curious about the "that child" Phoenix mentioned, and had heard him bring it up a few times before, seeing Phoenix's helpless expression, Erza wisely chose not to ask.
After washing up, Phoenix quickly made some breakfast. After eating with Erza, Phoenix went upstairs to change his clothes, then came back down and left with Erza. He didn't call Mavis, because it was still early, and Phoenix didn't want to wake Mavis, hoping she could sleep a little longer.
Phoenix and Erza went to the mountain behind the guild, a place where people rarely came, making it much quieter than other areas.
"Your situation is different from hers. Before I teach you, first show me your true self!"
Pointing at Erza, who stood five meters away, Phoenix softly uttered two words.
"Take it off!"
"Wh-what? Take... take what off?"
"Yes, take it off."
Erza's face instantly flushed crimson.
"I... I came to learn swordsmanship from you, but... but I have no intention of giving you my..."
"What are you mumbling about? I told you to take off your armor! Honestly, kids these days are so precocious."
You're the least qualified to say that!
Erza instantly recalled the scene of Phoenix and Mavis embracing intimately yesterday.
However, when armor was mentioned, a hint of difficulty appeared on Erza's face.
"C-can I not take it off?"
"You can!"
Phoenix said without hesitation. A look of joy immediately appeared on Erza's face, but Phoenix's next sentence instantly made Erza's face turn pale.
"I will directly use the most violent means to completely strip the armor from your body!"
Phoenix extended his right hand, and the void in his palm twisted. A slender katana, entirely black, with a swastika-shaped guard, a black and red hilt, and a section of black chain extending from its end, appeared in his grasp.
Swish!
Phoenix casually swung it, releasing a black crescent moon slash that silently cut a five-meter-tall boulder in half.
"Compared to violence, I prefer a gentle approach! Erza, what does armor represent to you? Do you truly lack that much security?"
Under Phoenix's all-seeing gaze, Erza's expression flickered, but in the end, she drew a sword and chose to resist Phoenix to the end.
"Sorry, but... this is me!"
"..."
Looking at the resolute Erza, a faint smile appeared on Phoenix's lips.
"Since that's the case, let me show you despair!"
Crack!
Before Erza could react, her armor shattered with a crash. Phoenix's figure in front of her flickered, then vanished. In that instant, Phoenix had already used Instant Transmission to appear behind Erza.
"Requip—Black Wing Armor!"
Crack!
"Requip—Flame Empress Armor!"
Crack!
"Requip—Flight Armor!"
"Requip—Giant's Armor!"
"Requip—Adamantine Armor!"
No matter how sturdy the armor Erza requipped into, it ultimately shattered into pieces under the black blade.
Clang!!
Struggling to block Phoenix's attack, Erza leaped backward. She was now wearing her last piece of armor—the Heaven's Wheel Armor.
"Crescent Moon—"
Swish—
Phoenix instantly appeared behind Erza using Instant Transmission, black magic power already condensed on his blade, ready to be released at any moment.
—Rush!"
"Heaven's Wheel—Blades of Swords!"
Boom!!
Crack, crack, crack—!
The countless sword shadows didn't even last a moment before they completely dissipated with a roar. Erza's body was sent flying by this terrifying magic power, crashing through more than a dozen large trees before slamming into the ground with a "boom," her last piece of armor now declared scrap.
"Your requip speed is fast. With this level of power, you can gain a great advantage against opponents of the same rank. But..."
"Cough, cough..."
Erza coughed up a mouthful of blood and struggled to get up from the ground. She looked up at Phoenix, but was surprised to find that he was now wearing a tattered, black trench coat with a blood-red pattern, which she hadn't noticed before.
"But how long can mere armor protect you? Magic is not an anomaly, but rather born within common sense. What it directly reflects is your inner self. It seems your past hides many, many unhappy memories."
Stopping in front of Erza, Phoenix sighed leisurely. Erza's expression changed, but she lowered her head and remained silent.
"...Let's stop here for now. Next, let's begin to learn true swordsmanship!"
"Ma-Master, don't you want to ask me what happened in my past?"
Erza didn't want to talk about her past, but when Phoenix truly didn't ask, a rare trace of bitterness welled up in her heart. No matter what, now that Erza acknowledged Phoenix as her Master, her feelings for Phoenix had unconsciously grown much closer.
"And would you be willing to tell me?"
Seemingly seeing Erza's struggle, Phoenix shook his head helplessly.
"When you feel it's appropriate, then tell me all the darkness in your heart. I will dispel all your darkness and sorrow. This is what I, as your Master, should do most."
"Master..."
Erza looked up at Phoenix, and something in her heart seemed to be touched. It was warm, and the emptiness within was filled with a strong emotion.
"But before I teach you..."
Phoenix turned his head, his gaze piercing directly into the lush forest behind him.
"Come out, Laxus. You've been hiding long enough."
There was a rustling sound in the forest, followed by a sudden, violent surge of powerful magic power. Accompanied by crackling lightning, Laxus slowly and heavily stepped towards Phoenix.
"Erza, stand aside and protect yourself well. Watch closely; battles between S-Class Mages are not common."
"S... S-Class? Could it be..."
Erza looked at Laxus in shock. Although she knew he was strong, Erza had always thought he was similar to her.
"Hmm? Didn't you know? Three years ago, Laxus already had the qualifications to contend for S-Class. Three years have passed, and although we haven't fought yet, the surrounding sounds are constantly reflecting his power!"
"Your senses are still so sharp. Although I also consider myself to have S-Class power, the Old Man has never agreed to let me participate in the assessment."
Stopping ten meters in front of Phoenix, Laxus said with a helpless expression.
"Well, that's just for your own good. The saying 'a tall tree catches the wind' is evident from my own experience."
"But you're still alive and well. After three years of hiatus, the name of Phoenix has probably been forgotten by now."
Laxus's tone was full of unwillingness, as if he cared more about it than Phoenix himself.
"Fame is merely an external thing; it doesn't represent anything. Well, although I'd like to say that, I've always prided myself as the World's Greatest Swordsman, so I really don't have the audacity to advise you on that."
Shaking his head helplessly, Phoenix pointed his sword at Laxus.
"Enough small talk. Whatever you have to say, let's talk after we fight!"