'One Hit Ko: 50 per cent X Constructive Interference: Factor 10 X Emotional Amplification FULL'
THUD
Adult Kazu stopped his fist with just a finger.
'Barrier!? What the fuck?' Kazu felt as if he had been told a lie. Barriers... weren't this strong.
For a second, he thought it was made strong by adding more Ethernano, but he realised that the magic power in the barrier was not even 10 per cent of the Ethernano Kazu's fist had contained.
'That shot was supposed to be even dangerous to master, how the heck did he do that?'
"Nah. Master would swat that way without even looking. Don't underestimate those old bones. He is not some random S-rank hobo, who would get damaged by such an attack." Adult Kazu again answered as if he could read Kazu's mind.
Kazu didn't answer, just looked at him.
"You still have 50 per cent. Do you want to try another shot?" Adult Kazu smirked.
Kazu sighed. The anger started receding when he realised the hopelessness of the situation. He looked back at the alley and found Zeref to be gone.
"Why was he here?"
"That's the reason I am here. To find out why he was here."
"I see. Any hypothesis?" Kazu turned to adult Kazu.
They were still on the streets of Magnolia. Kazu's attack had been too quick for normal people to notice, and Adult Kazu had made a barrier to prevent the aftereffects from affecting others.
"I think it's related to that book, the one that caused time-travel. Well, whatever. It doesn't really matter." Adult Kazu shrugged.
Kazu carefully examined his adult version.
'Not only can I get a read on him, but also the fact that he could casually stop my spell makes him dangerous. He is at least Wizard Saint level... probably.' Kazu then turned his attention to the invisible barrier covering adult Kazu's body.
He reached out to it and analysed it.
"Wow," Kazu exclaimed when he realised that he couldn't get a full read. 'This structure is to prevent others from analysing. This complexity just at the start... fuck, I can't even destroy a part of it. Maybe in a few hours.'
"Hmm, I also think you might be able to break it too in a few hours... The first layer that is."
"Stop reading my mind." Kazu snorted. He walked inside an alley, away from possible prying eyes.
Adult Kazu followed him. "I just have a good memory."
Kazu stopped once he felt like the place was isolated enough. He then turned towards his adult version. "Say, have you lost your drive for revenge?"
Kazu was scared of the answer. He was scared that he had completely changed, becoming somebody different.
"Why do you think so?"
"You didn't even have any change in expression when you saw Zeref," Kazu said in an accusatory tone.
"Well, my priorities had indeed changed. But, I am still driven for revenge against him."
Kazu looked at him with suspicion.
"Jeez. You don't believe me, do you? Let me just show you. My hatred." Adult Kazu shook his head before closing his eyes.
Kazu instinctively jumped back.
Ethernano emitted from Adult Kazu's body.
What shook Kazu was not the insanely high density of Ethernano.
Not that.
It was the feeling he was getting.
Hatred.
That was the only thing that came to mind when Kazu saw the black ethernnao darker than anything.
It was as if the concept of hatred had taken a tangible form.
Kazu blinked.
Next instant, as if everything was a lie, all the Ethernano disappeared along with the oppressive feeling.
He looked at Adult Kazu's smiling expression. "What... the fuck?" 'How is he smiling when moments ago he was... so full of hate?'
"That, my friend, is the result of emotional regulation."
"Amazing." 'So, this level is actually possible to reach. I guess, I still have that as one of my paths.' Kazu was satisfied with the clarity he had gotten on some of his unanswered questions.
"Hmm?" Suddenly, Kazu's eyes landed on a ring in Adult Kazu's fingers.
"I didn't think I would be the type of guy to wear such stuff. Then again, maybe I could try." He vocalised his thoughts.
Adult Kazu glanced at this ring. "Yeah, me neither. I wear it sometimes. It does match."
"Match?" Kazu tilted his head.
Adult Kazu blinked. Then he grinned. "Right. You don't know this. But, this is my engagement ring."
For a moment, Pink Ethernano flickered on Adult Kazu's body.
"...Huh?"
Kazu stared at him. His mind suddenly stopped processing.
"What? Who? Why?" 'That was pink colour. Wasn't it? What emotion does that represent?'
Adult Kazu grinned. He leaned closer to Kazu, as if telling a secret.
Kazu also leaned closer to hear it.
"Not telling."
"..." Veins popped on Kazu's forehead. He...wanted to punch the guy at least once.
"Haha. Looking at you, I guess, I have really become the person I hate."
It took a moment for Kazu to process that. He then snorted. "Yeah, yeah. whatever." 'I think it's better not knowing who it is. It would probably affect the future or some shit.'
Kazu quickly removed any thought regarding that from his mind.
"Wait." Kazu suddenly paused. He suddenly felt his face heating up.
"Yeah?" Adult Kazu's smile told him that he knew what question was coming next, having clearly gone through this event from his perspective.
"did you do that?" Kazu shyly asked.
"Do what? I wonder what you are talking about."
Kazu glared at him for a few seconds. Unfortunately, adult Kazu didn't care.
"You know...seggs." Kazu had died a teenager in his previous life, and such things were still out of his comfort zone, especially if it involved him directly.
"Yup. I did it. Before marriage."
"..."
Kazu covered his face with his hands. He was feeling too embarrassed.
"Hmm? I need to go now." Adult Kazu suddenly looked in a direction, breaking the silence.
"Already? What is one thing you would say that I need to know?" Kazu quickly turned serious. This was the most important thing.
Adult Kazu turned towards him. He looked at him for a few seconds.
"Nothing."
"Huh?"
"There's nothing that I need to say. You already know everything you need to know. Just a reminder, but make sure not to get complacent when you reach S-rank as you have planned. If you want to achieve your goal, that is."
With that, Adult Kazu disappeared.
'Well, he came like a storm and disappeared like one. At least, this reassures me that I am on the right path. Next goal: reach S-rank.' Kazu nodded to himself before rushing to his training area.
He didn't have time to waste. S-rank was at sight.
---
15th August x778
"I am already done." Kazu frowned. He had already consolidated all the insights he got from the Veyren mission.
The main insight was cutting down on his reliance on his Instinct magic. This led to increased control over his main magic.
Other things were mainly his increased understanding of magic, which was due to the consolidation of what he taught Gray during the mission itself. One of the applications was the delayed Destructive Interference he created. Though all of them were minor, cumulatively, they had a huge impact.
"Well, next training is to strengthen my barriers. That and learning various effects." Kazu made a barrier. Then enhanced it with Constructive Interference and then destroyed it with Destructive Interference.
CRACK
He then repeated that cycle over and over, making each barrier different from before.
CRACK
CRACK
CRACK
'This is therapeutic' Kazu was feeling internally satisfied.
"Well, I will continue this on a mission. It's already been more than nearly 3 months. Time for another mission." Kazu headed towards the guild.
He had directly headed towards the mountain after his meeting with Adult Kazu. In the last 2 months, nobody had come to disturb him there, which Kazu found unusual.
'Not even Gray or Cana. Has the path changed or something?' Kazu camped at Mount Hakobe, which was near Magnolia town. Gray also sometimes came on the mountain to train his ice magic due to the environment.
Kazu quickly understood why.
"Vulcans? Guess that answers it. It's too dangerous for anybody other than Erza." He frowned when some of them started rushing at him.
Kazu released his killing intent, stopping all of them in their tracks.
"Screw off if you don't want to die."
All the Vulcans quickly ran off. No animal approached Kazu's area due to the Ethernano density the area was in. Kazu had defeated the leader of the mountain previously to get that spot. So, all the animals didn't approach that area if they wanted to not die.
"Well, whatever. Let's go."
---
"Kazu! There you are! Mission. WE have a mission." Even before Kazu could enter the tavern, Natsu shouted right in his ear.
"Chill. No need to shout." Kazu waved both of his hands to calm him down.
"Mission! We have mission! First mission." Another voice came from behind Natsu, causing Kazu to furrow his eyebrows. 'Who's that?'
Kazu's eyes widened when he looked at the speaker.
A small blue cat with white wings floated in the air.
"Happy?"
***
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