In the Kingdom of Fiore, nestled in the bustling town of Magnolia…
A sudden uproar shook the busy streets as startled townspeople cried out and dashed in every direction, eager to get out of harm's way.
Towering over the cobbled road and medieval-style buildings was a ten-meter-tall Rock Golem, stomping forward with thunderous steps that made the ground quake beneath its massive feet.
Despite its size, the Golem's body was crafted with precision its stone form chiseled cleanly, two massive rock swords protruding from its shoulders like decorative weapons. Its eyes gleamed with a piercing light, like a hardened warrior marching fearlessly into battle.
Cold wind whipped through the street, and a red-and-black windbreaker fluttered violently in its gusts.
Perched atop the Golem's broad shoulder stood a lean man, hands casually tucked in his coat pockets. His sharp gaze was fixed ahead, calmly surveying the road that stretched before him.
At the far end of the street, the familiar silhouette of a grand guild hall came into view Fairy Tail.
"Who the heck is this nutjob? Walking down the street like he owns the place and blocking traffic?!" a nearby adventurer growled, visibly annoyed.
A glowing magic circle lit up at the man's feet as he bravely stepped forward, positioning himself in front of the advancing Golem.
He was a Mage.
"Hey, hey! Don't do it, kid! Come back here, now!" a middle-aged man rushed over, his face pale as he tried to drag the young mage back.
"That thing's not here to fight it's just passing through! Step aside and you'll be fine!"
As a longtime resident of Magnolia, the middle-aged man clearly knew a thing or two about that massive Rock Golem.
"Retreat? Are you joking? I'm the strongest Mage from Black Griffin!"
The young man smirked as he rolled up his sleeve, proudly revealing the guild emblem inked on his arm.
At the mention of that name, the middle-aged man paused, brows furrowed. He stared blankly for a moment, clearly struggling to recall anything relevant.
"…Never heard of that guild," he admitted with an awkward shrug.
"Damn it!"
The self-proclaimed "strongest" Mage visibly deflated.
He grit his teeth in frustration, stomped the ground, and angrily triggered his magic circle with a flash of determination, as if trying to redeem himself on the spot.
But before he could act, the middle-aged man barked in panic, "If you're really going to use magic, don't blame me for not warning you! That guy standing on the Rock Golem's shoulder is Ches Lin Edoga, an S-Class Mage from Fairy Tail!"
The color instantly drained from the younger man's face.
The Rock Golem was now close enough for its footsteps to shake the nearby windows, and without hesitation, the mage turned tail and bolted in the opposite direction.
"I don't care if it's Black Griffin or White Chicken Hand, I'm outta here!"
Fairy Tail?
S-Class?
Ches Lin Edoga?!
Each word struck like thunder in the mind of the would-be hero who had just been gearing up for a flashy entrance.
In a single second, his fierce and defiant glare softened into something wide-eyed and innocent, clearer than a straight-A university student trying to avoid conflict.
Thud!
His grand dream of repelling the mighty Golem and earning the admiration of Magnolia's citizens vanished into thin air.
The Rock Golem casually lifted one leg and kicked him into the sky. He spun through the air in a wobbly spiral, making two and a half turns before landing headfirst in a nearby trash can.
Lid closed.
And just like that, the Rock Golem kept walking down the road, completely unfazed, its massive feet pounding steadily forward.
It came to a stop in front of a three-story building. Not particularly flashy, not overly tall. In fact, it looked more like a local tavern than anything else.
But there, fluttering proudly in the breeze, was a flag marked with the image of a dancing fairy.
Right above the doorway hung a sign that read: Fairy Tail.
Fairy Tail the most renowned wizard guild in the entire Kingdom of Fiore.
Snap!
Standing tall on the Golem's shoulder, Ches snapped his fingers. In an instant, a card appeared between his fingertips, its back marked with a swirling black vortex.
A brilliant light burst forth beneath the Rock Golem's feet. Red and black beams intertwined, forming a smooth, rotating magic circle that shimmered with power.
The towering Golem began to dissolve, breaking apart into countless glowing fragments that flowed down into the magic circle below.
Ches, now without support beneath his feet, hovered briefly before gently descending to the ground like a feather on the breeze. He casually tucked the card away one from his Yugi Mutou deck.
This deck was the source of his magic. Or more accurately, it was the mysterious power he had brought with him when he first arrived in the world of Fairy Tail.
By channeling magic into the Yugi Mutou Cards, Ches could summon monsters from his deck to battle at his side. The process resembled Celestial Spirit Magic, but with an entirely different flair.
"It's already been over a year… I didn't even notice. Coming home after being away for so long feels… overdue."
From the half-open guild hall door, loud voices and cheerful noise spilled out a familiar chaos only Fairy Tail could produce.
Ches exhaled gently, his heart stirred by the comfort of it all.
Raising his hand, he bent two fingers and made a gentle, respectful knocking gesture.
And then…
Boom!
The fragile wooden door exploded in a spectacular blast, sending splinters flying and thick smoke swirling into the air.
Sure, most people knock politely when returning home but this was Fairy Tail. Who followed normal rules around here, anyway?
"Enemy attack?!"
"Haha! Some idiot actually showed up looking for a fight?"
"Outta my way! I'm taking this one down myself!"
"Back off, Elfman! This is my moment to shine!"
The explosion set the whole guild into a frenzy. The once-rowdy chatter screeched to a halt as the mages sprang to their feet, cracking their knuckles and charging up their magic, eyes fixed on the smoke-filled entrance.
In any other guild, a broken door might trigger alarm, caution, and a quick move to regroup in defense.
But Fairy Tail… was anything but normal.
Hmm… they hadn't even seen the "intruder's" face clearly, and yet they were already fighting over who got to pummel him first.
Classic Fairy Tail. Brutal style. Zero hesitation.
"Oh? You're going to beat me to a pulp?" a voice called out playfully. "Elfman, it's been a while. You sound even more manly than before."
That voice familiar in a way that sent a jolt through the entire guild.
The rowdy crowd froze mid-charge.
And as the smoke cleared, a figure stepped through.
Eyes widened. Jaws dropped.
"Huh?"
"Huh?! Ches!!!"
The moment Elfman recognized who it was, his posture crumbled like a popped balloon.
The same guy who had just been roaring to fight quickly shuffled forward and subtly blocked his fellow guildmates, as if trying to protect them… or hide behind them.
He turned away like nothing had happened and casually looked over at the bar.
"So, uh… Mira, where were we again? Oh, right, the laundry at home. Did we ever bring those clothes in?"
By the bar stood Mira, dressed in her signature red outfit. She placed her hands gently on her waist, tilted her head, and smiled sweetly.
"Mhm!"