The next day.
"Boom!"
When Makarov returned from the Magic Council after paying the fine, he kicked open the door of his guild, stood at the entrance, arms crossed in front of him, and loudly addressed everyone inside the guild: "My children! I'm back! Did you miss me while I was away from the guild?! You didn't do anything to make me angry again, did you?"
"Uh?"
"Are you Master Makarov?!"
"Weren't you in the guild before?"
As Makarov's words fell, he was met by a group of listless, dispirited Mages from the Fairy Tail Guild, as if their essence had been sucked out by a demon, completely devoid of their usual vitality.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"What's wrong with you all?"
"So listless..."
"Young people should act like young people."
"Cheer up, all of you..."
Originally, Makarov, fearing that the "super-male" Mages in the guild would dismantle the entire Fiore Kingdom during his absence, accelerated his return to the guild after the Magic Council issued its judgment.
Upon seeing his guild members, for some unknown reason, all slumped over tables, looking dispirited, he couldn't help but show a hint of anxiety, nervously looking around and asking in a loud voice.
"Master, it's not that we lack vigor, but Chrollo's training during your absence has made it impossible for us to cheer up."
Macao, with a hunched back and a look of back pain, approached Makarov and couldn't help but complain.
"Ah? Chrollo gave you special training?"
Makarov paused, looking at Macao and asking.
"Yes!"
"When you were away, didn't the 24-hour Endurance Race held by the guild end?"
"Chrollo subjected us Mages who failed to retrieve the Wyvern's scales within 24 hours to brutal special training..."
"Don't even mention it, I still feel my back aching and my muscles are killing me."
"Though, my Magic Power has indeed increased quite a bit, that's all."
As Macao spoke, he snapped his fingers.
Immediately, purple flames ignited around Macao, and the flames, like nimble little snakes, changed shape back and forth under Macao's mental manipulation.
"Speaking of which..."
"That guy Chrollo also recommended me to learn Fire Maker Magic."
"No more talk, I need to hurry..."
"In a month, Chrollo will also test us Mages who participated in the special training, and those who don't pass will have to undergo that deadly Magic Power Developer again."
Macao said...
With a hunched back, he walked towards the Fairy Tail Guild's library.
The Fairy Tail Guild's library, unlike how it would be later, wasn't completely burned down by Natsu; it still contained various conventional Magic books.
At the entrance of the Fairy Tail Guild library, Wakaba was "puffing, puffing" on a cigarette. Besides recommending Macao to learn Fire Maker Magic for his unique fire magic, Chrollo also recommended Wakaba to learn Mist Maker Magic.
As for Chrollo's main reason for promoting Maker Magic?!
It was purely because Maker Magic belonged to the conventional magic system in Ishgar!
Which meant it was slightly above the common level.
And Maker Magic was easy to learn, plus it had sufficient power.
Of course, not many people could cultivate Maker Magic to a high level.
If there was a master to teach them, it would accelerate the Training progress of a Maker Magic Chrollo.
Of course, this wasn't something these Mages of the Fairy Tail Guild needed to consider...
After all, their guild now had a Maker Magic Chrollo who was considered one of the strongest on the Ishgar continent, bearing the title of "Ten Wizard Saints'~
Yes, that's Ur.
With Ur's profound knowledge in Maker Magic...
Even dedicating a little time each day to guide the others in the guild would be enough to quickly improve the strength of these beginners.
On the other side.
Besides giving simple guidance to everyone in the guild, Chrollo also specially created an elite class.
The so-called elite class consisted of the S-Class Mage candidates in the guild.
This included the four S-Class Mage candidates: Laxus, Erza, Mirajane, and Ultear.
And Natsu, Gray, Lyon, Cana, who were candidates among candidates...
Finally, Elfman and Lisanna, who were candidates beyond candidates.
Well, as long as they work hard to cultivate, there will eventually be a chance for them to pass the guild's S-Class Mage Examination.
In short, we must believe in ourselves.
"You all must work hard to cultivate~"
"Those who fail the Training will continue to receive punishment."
Chrollo urged the guild's candidates to train hard and warned them.
"I'm just afraid your punishment won't satisfy me, Chrollo."
Laxus looked at Chrollo with a challenging expression.
"Then let's see! Laxus..."
"Don't worry, my punishment will always satisfy you." Chrollo glanced at Laxus and smiled.
He had already begun to update and modify the Magic Power Developer.
One day, it would reach a level where even S-Class Mages could use it.
"So why do I have to come here too..."
"And train with these monsters?"
Cana was listless. She had already recognized her own strength; she and Laxus were completely not on the same level.
"Cana, believe in yourself."
"You are also a monster-level."
"After all, you are the'strongest' child."
Chrollo looked at the listless Cana, his eyes slightly narrowed, and he spoke with a double meaning.
"The strongest child?"
Cana almost instantly understood Chrollo's meaning. She looked at Chrollo, her eyes wide with shock, saying: "You saw through it?"
"Yes! After all, your Magic Power properties are very similar."
"It's just that he's too careless, so he didn't notice..."
"How should I put it? Although I have no right, I still ask you to forgive him!"
Chrollo replied with a smile.
Putting himself in Cana's shoes, setting aside forgiveness or not, he would definitely smash that old bastard Gildarts's face...
"Sniff..."
"I never blamed him..."
"Anyway, I will work hard."
"Until the day I truly deserve the title of'strongest' child comes."
Cana felt a slight sting in her nose.
Finally, someone discovered her secret...
Although it wasn't that person, it seemed to lighten the burden in her heart.
"Yo! Cana, you were actually called the strongest child by Chrollo, I can't pretend I didn't hear that!"
"I think the weather is nice today..."
"Perfect, let's have a match and see who deserves the title of strongest?!"
Just then, the spoilsport Laxus came to Cana's side. He casually put his arm around Cana's shoulder, with "crackling" electricity radiating from his body, and said with a forced smile.
"Uh..."
Cana's body instantly stiffened upon hearing this.
"Cana, although we usually get along well."
"But I can't pretend I didn't hear what you just said..."
"Just as Laxus said, let's have a showdown!"
"The strongest position is mine."
As Erza spoke, she had already drawn the knight's sword from her waist.
"Cana, don't hesitate, accept it cheerfully!"
Mirajane had already received part of Deliora's soul.
"Cana, I didn't expect you to hide so deeply?!"
"To be called the strongest by Chrollo..."
"Hurry, let's have a showdown! I'm fired up..."
The speaker was Natsu.
All of a sudden, Cana seemed to become the target of everyone.
Well, in the Fairy Tail Guild, there's no chance for anyone to play the emotional card...
This is a ruthless guild where the strong prey on the weak.
"No! Brother Chrollo, please explain for me."
Cana looked to Chrollo at her side for help.
"Cana, you must be strong~"
Chrollo said, saluting Cana with his eyes to show his respect.
Then, he turned and left...
"Eh?!"
"No, Brother Chrollo, don't go?!"
Cana looked at the departing Chrollo, her forehead covered in sweat.
Leaving her alone here, she probably couldn't escape the fate of fighting everyone present.
It would be fine if she could win...
The problem was, she couldn't win!
If, in the original timeline, Laxus, as the BOSS of the Civil War arc, saw this all-warrior Fairy Tail Guild built by Chrollo, he would definitely say with a sweat: "Brother Chrollo, no matter how I look at it, you're a bit too radical."