Erza considered Arthur's polite but firm request to join.
Her mind, calculating the immense, stable power she had sensed from him and the terrifying magical silence from the others in his group, decided instantly.
It was safer to have this power near her, where she could observe it, than operating independently.
"I will let you join us,"
Erza stated, her eyes sharp.
"Please follow me."
She led her established team—Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Happy—along with her highly unusual new allies—Arthur, Rimuru, Milim, Shion, and Shuna—out of the chaotic Guild Hall and into the sunny streets of Magnolia Town.
Gray was immediately suspicious. He walked up to Erza as they walked.
"Why are you bringing them with you?"
Gray asked, nodding dismissively toward Arthur's group.
He saw a handsome stranger, an easy going blue-haired woman, a pink-haired girl who loved to fight, and two stern-looking female bodyguards.
None of them seemed strong in his opinion.
"They will join us on the mission,"
Erza replied curtly, focusing on the road ahead.
"Why? Is he strong enough to join us?"
Gray pressed, looking pointedly at Arthur.
Since he hadn't experienced the dragon aura energy surge, he genuinely couldn't feel anything overwhelming from Arthur.
He didn't want Erza bringing unnecessary liabilities on a mission against a dangerous Dark Guild.
Erza was about to turn and deliver a sharp reprimand to Gray for his lack of respect, but Arthur was faster.
Arthur walked toward Gray, his hands resting casually in his pockets, a calm, friendly smile on his face.
"You're right to be cautious,"
Arthur said smoothly.
"I can just show you then."
Arthur didn't blast him or flex his muscles.
He simply allowed a minuscule fraction of his Dragon's Aura to manifest—a sliver of the immense power his Magicules Breeder Reactor provided.
He controlled himself meticulously, ensuring the surge only hit a specific, non-lethal limit.
Gray, who was intimately familiar with the immense, heavy pressure exerted by the Guild Master Makarov, felt a sudden, suffocating weight slam down on him.
The air around Arthur solidified, the energy pressure immediately crushing, utterly overwhelming his senses.
His mind screamed a single, terrifying truth: This man's power equals, or even surpasses, the Guild Master's!
"He's an S-Rank Mage!"
Gray thought, gasping for air, the realization hitting him like a physical blow.
Arthur instantly retracted the pressure.
"Oh, and before you ask them,"
Arthur added, gesturing with a tilt of his head toward his entourage,
"they are all also S-Rank."
Rimuru then gave a polite, elegant smile and briefly let her aura flare—a clean, infinite loop of power that felt alien but undeniable.
Milim snorted and allowed her raw, destructive energy to shimmer for a moment of course the seal was still intact.
Shion and Shuna followed, their coordinated auras speaking of disciplined, lethal strength.
Gray felt deeply wronged.
He was suspicious and utterly disoriented.
How could four powerful mages like them suddenly materialize out of nowhere?
He instinctively wanted to drag Natsu into the argument, wanting the comfort of their usual rivalry dynamic.
But when he looked at the Fire Dragon Slayer, Natsu was standing several feet away, pale and trembling slightly, his eyes fixed on Arthur.
Natsu was afraid.
Something Gray had never seen in the perpetually fearless mage before.
The question of their qualification was violently silenced.
Gray simply swallowed hard and nodded, falling silent as they continued toward the train station.
....ADVANCED CHAPTERS...
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