With the guild members fast asleep around them, Mystogan walked quietly through the room.
Ankh looked down and muttered, "Interesting magic. Even I feel a little bit sleepy..."
"Hmph, this level of magic is only strong enough to knock out those kids," Laxus scoffed.
Mystogan walked silently over to them and stopped, seeming to hesitate for a moment.
Then, he gave a slight bow as a greeting.
Laxus just turned his head away, but Ankh was a bit surprised and nodded back.
After the greeting, Mystogan headed for the guild's quest board, likely to pick up a mission.
Ankh watched him go, then glanced at the grumpy Laxus beside him.
"You don't seem to like him much?"
Laxus rested his chin on his hand, his voice low. "I've fought him before..."
Ankh understood immediately. "Didn't come out on top?"
Laxus's expression darkened, but he nodded.
"His strength is respectable. He's one of the few who can actually challenge you and me."
Hearing this, Ankh looked at Laxus in surprise.
Was the sun rising in the west? Laxus was actually giving someone praise?
Before Mystogan showed up, Ankh was the only one their age Laxus had acknowledged, which is why they'd become friends.
It made sense why Laxus was so fired up during the future guild civil war when Mystogan appeared.
In Laxus's eyes, Mystogan was probably the only one who could truly be a rival to him.
Soon, Mystogan came back from the quest board and left the guild.
"Remember to undo the sleep magic," Ankh reminded him calmly.
"Understood," Mystogan replied.
The moment his footsteps faded from the street outside, everyone in the guild woke up at once.
Gray held his head as he got up from the floor, complaining, "It really was Mystogan. That feeling is the worst!"
Cana, holding a barrel of alcohol, pointed at Gray helplessly. "Gray, your clothes are off again!"
"Ah! When did that happen?!"
Erza leaned against the wall, looking displeased as she rubbed her forehead.
"Damn it, he got me again!"
Mirajane's face was also dark.
As an experienced S-Class Mage, being put to sleep so easily by a junior who wasn't even officially S-Class yet was seriously embarrassing...
She rushed over to Ankh's table and slammed her hand down.
"Ankh! Have you seen what Mystogan really looks like?"
Ankh thought about the memories from his past life and answered vaguely.
"You could say that."
"Then why does he have to hypnotize us every time he comes? Does he just love being mysterious that much?" Mirajane was frustrated.
They were all guild mates—was it really necessary to be so secretive?
Ankh smiled, finished his drink, and said, "Everyone in the guild has their own scars, their own troubles and secrets they can't avoid."
Mirajane pursed her lips, wanting to argue, but in the end, she just nodded.
Just as Ankh was about to leave, Laxus stopped him.
"There's a Ten-Year quest on the second floor. Are you interested?"
Ankh's interest was piqued.
A Ten-Year Mission was a high-difficulty quest that had remained uncompleted for ten years.
Its challenge and rewards were second only to the legendary Century Mission.
In the entire guild today, aside from the Master and the founders, only Gildarts had ever completed one.
And after finishing a mission of that level, Gildarts had left just half a year ago to take on a Century Mission.
Unfortunately, Ankh had been on a job at the time and missed seeing Gildarts off...
Laxus looked seriously at Ankh.
"A Ten-Year Mission is a big deal. It's my first time taking one, so I want to ask you to join me."
"With the two of us, plus the Thunder God Tribe helping out, we should be able to handle it."
Ankh thought for a moment, then nodded.
Even though a Ten-Year Mission wasn't as hard as a Century Mission, it was still incredibly difficult.
Teaming up with Laxus would be much safer.
Besides, the White Devil Cult was finished, and Ankh didn't have any other jobs right now.
This was a perfect chance to get some training.
"Wait a second. I want to try out a new toy first," Ankh said, pulling out the Ophiuchus Celestial Spirit Key.
Laxus glanced at the key. "Celestial Spirit Magic? You're going to learn something that flashy?"
Ankh held the key casually. "You can never have too many skills. It doesn't take much effort anyway."
"The most important part of Celestial Spirit Magic isn't just having magic power—it's the bond you form with the spirits."
...
After talking with everyone in the guild for a while, Laxus went home to prepare for the Ten-Year Mission.
Ankh used this time to prepare for making a contract with the Ophiuchus Celestial Spirit.
In a quiet, spacious park, Ankh raised the key and clearly spoke the words he'd learned from a book.
"Gate of Ophiuchus, open!"
Ding—
A clear chime rang out as a huge magic circle instantly appeared above the key.
Then, a black mist surged forth, quickly spreading over a large area.
Ankh's eyes lit up.
The magic power and presence... it was truly impressive...
Behind the rolling black fog, Ankh's sharp eyes saw through the layers of mist, instantly spotting the gigantic being hidden within.
He looked up and saw a massive snake's head, its cold, gleaming eyes fixed intently on him.
Ankh met its gaze without backing down, instead curiously studying this floating giant snake that was as long as a city street.
The Ophiuchus Celestial Spirit wasn't just terrifyingly large—its body structure was also strange.
It was completely black and glossy, covered in armor carved with mysterious symbols.
From a distance, it looked like a cursed, mechanical giant snake hiding in the black mist.
The snake-like monster had arrived!
The more Ankh looked at this giant creature, the more he liked it.
There was no special reason—he just felt an immediate connection.
"Master..."
Ankh was startled.
It was Ophiuchus's voice, speaking directly into his mind.
"Ophiuchus, are you willing to form a contract with me and become my strength?" Ankh asked directly, without any small talk.
Ophiuchus coiled its massive body and lowered its huge head, its voice echoing inside his mind.
"I am willing to serve you, Master."
Ankh nodded.
The process had been much faster and smoother than he'd expected.
The Ophiuchus Celestial Spirit's personality could be described as calm and wise, or perhaps simply easygoing and accepting.
From the very start, it showed no resistance at all.