Natsu appeared in the center of the main hall in a golden flash.
Helena, Darius, and Marcus reacted like someone watching lightning strike inside their own room: first they froze, then instinctively stepped back, and only then did their brains accept that it had really happened.
Natsu raised his hand in greeting, as if he had just walked in through the door normally.
"Good afternoon." His tone was casual, almost distracted. "The mission is complete."
The silence was so deep that the ticking of the clock on the wall could be heard.
Helena was the first to catch her breath.
"C–complete…?" She blinked, clearly not understanding. "Natsu, you left this morning. Just a few hours ago! We haven't even received a report…"
"No need for one anymore." He shrugged. "Kael Vortigan. Ragnar Volkhart. And the rest of the Black Tide."
A light, dangerously calm smile curved Natsu's lips.
"They won't bother anyone anymore."
Marcus practically choked.
"W–wait. You… you defeated the Emperor of Chains? In so little—?"
"Yes."
"And Ragnar…?"
"Him too."
Darius opened his mouth… closed it… tried to open it again… gave up.
Helena regained her composure with difficulty.
"So… my daughter…?"
Natsu tilted his head, offering a faint smile.
"She's safe. No one will get near her."
Helena pressed a hand to her chest, as if her breathing had finally returned after weeks.
"Thank you…" Her voice trembled, not from fear, but from pure, overwhelming relief.
"I said I'd take care of it." Natsu spoke simply. "I don't like people who treat women like prizes. That guy was worse trash than the rumors said."
Darius finally managed to move.
"You… alone… defeated an entire crew that could rival the guilds of Ishgar? Without reinforcements? Without—"
"Darius." Helena interrupted him, her voice still choked. "He's from Fairy Tail."
And for the first time… she said it with respect, not caution.
Marcus took a deep breath, his shoulders sagging as the tension drained away in an almost painful way.
"Rosenfeld is in your debt." He said firmly. "Completely."
Natsu scratched the back of his neck, a little uncomfortable with it all.
"No need to overdo it." He rolled his shoulders like someone returning from a light workout. "Now you just need to reorganize the routes and let Ishgar know the problem's over. No political tensions, no trade stopping, no war."
"As for the reward…" Helena began.
"You can send it straight to Fairy Tail." Natsu said bluntly. "The guild's climbing back to the top now. The money will help."
Helena nodded, without arguing.
"It will be done."
Natsu took a step toward the door but stopped when he noticed Helena was still trembling slightly. He glanced over his shoulder.
"Go see your daughter." His voice came out soft but firm. "She must be worried about you."
Her chin quivered for a second before she could reply.
"…Thank you, Natsu."
The Fire Dragon Slayer simply raised his hand in farewell.
"If you need me… send a mission specifying that you need me or something like that…"
And then, clear as day, he vanished in another golden flash, leaving an entire room of adults unsure whether to sit or collapse onto the floor.
.
.
.
.
.
Natsu appeared in the air above the sea in a golden flash, and when his feet touched the surface, the water behaved as if it were solid ground thanks to his impeccable control over his "magical power."
The ocean was silent.
He took his first step on the water, and the waves parted beneath his feet as if they feared touching him.
Knowing that Erza or Mirajane would come after him for accepting an S-Class mission without being an S-Class Mage, he didn't want to waste time on anything beyond his objectives. So, right after reporting that he had completed the mission, the first thing that came to mind was to head immediately to the Alvarez Empire and continue with his plans.
Along the trade route he had followed that morning—the same one where they had been attacked by the Black Tide, and where he had left a mark from his [Flying Thunder God Technique] at the exact point he had just teleported to—he had already covered nearly a third of the way toward the continent of Alakitasia.
"If I walk, it'll take about two days…" he murmured to himself, scratching his cheek.
A slightly predatory smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"…so I won't walk."
Natsu adjusted his center of gravity. Then he made his body as light as smoke by manipulating his own gravity, reducing it to the absolute minimum. The water beneath his feet no longer showed even a ripple—there wasn't enough "weight" in his body to disturb the surface. His body became as light as a dragon's feather, and inertia became irrelevant.
He took a deep breath.
And then, he vanished.
A golden impact exploded like a flash as he used [Koku Shundō] at full power, stepping on the very "space" above the water. The air pressure distorted, the sea below sank into shallow craters, and the world turned into a continuous line of light as he shot forward at a terrifying speed!
Thanks to the extreme precision of his gravitational manipulation, his movement technique was no longer limited to one-third the speed of light—he broke that barrier and reached two-thirds of it. The sea ceased to be a sea, reduced to a single blue streak unraveling behind him. The air offered no resistance; it was compressed and torn apart by the violence of his passage. His silhouette degraded until it became a blur that barely belonged to this plane, while the horizon seemed to leap toward him with brutal speed.
In moments, the coast appeared.
And then, before him, the city emerged like a vision rising from the mist.
If he wasn't mistaken, judging by the map he had glanced at, this city was called Karyndell.
A coastal city in Alakitasia built on tiers of white stone, with observation towers rising atop steep cliffs. The harbor was protected by circular walls that resembled giant petals, each reinforced with ancient magic. Sleek boats, of a design completely different from those in Ishgar, rocked gently on the calm sea.
In the center of the city, a large crystalline lighthouse emitted a soft blue light.
Natsu gradually slowed down, his body fully materializing in the air until he landed gently on one of the stone pillars marking the maritime entrance.
The impact of his arrival created only a gentle ripple on the water—nothing that betrayed the absurd speed at which he had traveled.
He took a deep breath, observing the silent city before him.
"Alright… I'm here."
He pondered for a moment, knowing that he had officially arrived in the Alvarez Empire, since the port city he was in was one of the many cities of the empire.
The Alvarez Empire was founded at an unspecified time in the original history or public records. Obviously, no one knew that the one responsible for founding it was Zeref Dragneel, who subjugated seven hundred and thirty guilds in Alakitasia through martial force and crowned himself Emperor under the name Spriggan. It began as a small nation but, over the years, absorbed many other guilds and nations until it finally became the enormous empire it is today.
He would need to act carefully and remain cautious until he completed his objectives in that territory. Even with the power he now possessed, there were still many mages considerably stronger than him there. For that reason, he would also have to avoid drawing unnecessary attention…
Natsu stopped thinking and let out a short sigh, as if pushing his worries aside for later. He shoved his hands into his pockets and leaped from the stone pillar, walking with light steps across the bridge leading into the interior of Karyndell.
As soon as he entered the city, the difference in atmosphere was clear.
The city was exactly what one would expect from a truly militaristic country: organized and rigid. The white stone buildings reflected the bluish light from the crystalline lighthouse, giving everything an almost cold appearance. Guards patrolled the streets in pairs, all wearing light armor with the emblem of the Alvarez Empire engraved on their chests.
But despite the austerity, the port area was lively.
Fishermen unloaded nets full of silvery fish, children ran between wooden crates, vendors shouted offers of spices and exotic seafood.
Natsu passed through some narrow alleys until something caught his attention: a small food stall, simple but with fragrant smoke that made his stomach growl immediately.
The vendor was a middle-aged man with a thick mustache, a sauce-stained apron, and a huge bubbling pot behind him.
"Hey, kid!" the man called. "First customer of the late afternoon gets a discount!"
Natsu smiled.
That kind of approach was universal.
"Hm… give me whatever's the tastiest you've got…" He placed some Jewels on the counter without even checking the amount.
"Ah, I like that!" The vendor laughed, taking the Jewels and serving something that looked like a spicy stew mixed with crispy strips of some local fish. "It's called Red Harrun. Family recipe. If you don't like it, you can curse me out later…"
Natsu took the bowl, blew on it quickly, and took the first bite.
His eyes lit up.
"This is REALLY good!" he commented, already starting on the rest.
The vendor broke into a proud grin.
Natsu walked through the city while eating, observing the details.
He finished the food exactly when he saw an old lady trying to lift a heavy crate on the edge of the street. She was small, wrinkled like ancient parchment, wearing simple clothes and a light blue headscarf.
Natsu walked over to her.
"Need help?"
She looked at him with surprise and then with a warm smile.
"Oh, my young man… I would love that. These hands don't do what I tell them anymore…"
Natsu picked up the crate with one hand and set it beside the door.
"There you go…"
"Good heavens… you're very strong…" The old lady chuckled. "Thank you so much…"
Natsu scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed.
"No big deal. But… since I'm here, can I ask something? I'm looking for the capital of the Alvarez Empire. Do you know which way it is?"
The old lady widened her eyes.
"The capital? Vistarion?"
Natsu raised an eyebrow.
"That's the name…?"
"Of course…" She adjusted her scarf with pride. "Every citizen of the Empire knows that, dear. It's to the northeast, following the main road after the upper gates. But… it's a long trip. A young man alone shouldn't go there without—"
"I'll manage…" Natsu said with a calm smile.
The old lady laughed, shaking her head.
"Young people… all the same. Well, if you're serious, follow the white marble road until the stone columns. From there, it's a straight path. You won't get lost…"
Natsu nodded.
"Thanks. And… the food around here is good. If you want anything from the port, buy from the guy who makes Red Harrun. His stuff is really good…"
"Ah, I know Aderon!" She smiled broadly. "I'll be happy to visit him again. Thank you so much, dear. May your journey be safe…"
Natsu raised his hand in farewell and began walking toward the north gate of the city.
The sun was beginning to descend on the horizon, and the blue light from the lighthouse blended with the golden hues of late afternoon, creating a bright path on the marble road.
He took a deep breath, keeping his eyes fixed in the direction the old lady had indicated. To be honest, although he had studied the map of the continent, his knowledge was focused on the port cities listed by the Ishgar Trade Association. As for the name of the Alvarez Empire's capital… he simply didn't remember. When he read the Fairy Tail manga, that part must have been exactly the one he skipped; even with his materialized photographic memory, that information remained a blind spot. The rest of the work was crystal clear in his mind, except for the details about the capital and its region, which he remembered ignoring while fast-forwarding straight to the war between Fairy Tail and the Alvarez Empire.
His predecessor wasn't much help either: he had been almost completely ignorant of geography, and in the month since arriving in this world, he hadn't bothered to study the subject, prioritizing only training and magical learning.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he began walking casually toward the capital.
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