The noise of the Fairy Tail Guild Hall—a thunderous symphony of clinking mugs, flying fists, and a perpetually tipsy Master—ground to an abrupt, uneasy halt.
The source of the silence? A flash of scarlet armor, the air around it humming with barely restrained power: Erza Scarlet, the Titania, the Fairy Queen.
Even among the legendary mages of Fairy Tail, Erza's presence was like a force of nature. She should technically be the second female lead, but in the hearts of fans—and in the eyes of many mages—she was the undisputed first.
Qi Yan recognized her instantly. As a newcomer who'd joined while she was away, this was his first proper look at the Guild's iron fist. And she was magnificent.
"What's happening?" Qi Yan murmured, craning his neck over a sea of stunned onlookers.
"It seems Erza wants to take an S-Class Request, but the Master refused," a nearby mage whispered, eyes wide.
S-Class?!
The words were a punch to the gut. S-Class jobs weren't just difficult; they were life insurance waivers. Even elite S-Class Mages like Erza usually treaded carefully. Only the behemoths, the forces of nature like Gildarts, treated them as routine.
"Master!" Erza's voice rang out, sharp as a drawn blade. "I am confident I can complete this S-Class mission!"
The girl wasn't just talented; she was a prodigy. She had earned her S-Class rank at fifteen, the youngest in Fairy Tail history. For three years, she had patiently refined her skills, holding back her hunger for the true challenges.
But then Qi Yan had arrived. The rumor was impossible to ignore: a total newcomer had completed an S-Class mission on his very first job. It was an insult to every veteran's sense of competition, and it had lit a furious fire under the Fairy Queen.
She was eighteen now. Her patience was gone.
"No! This job is too dangerous, Erza," Makarov roared, his tiny body vibrating with fury. "It's not about confidence; it's about raw, unadulterated strength!"
"I have the strength to complete this mission!"
"You stubborn girl, why are you so pigheaded?!" Makarov slammed his hand down, shaking the entire table.
"Heh, why does this scene feel so familiar?" Elfman muttered, glancing pointedly at Qi Yan. Just a few days ago, the newcomer had been having the exact same fight with the Master.
"Master, I'm not being stubborn. I'm truly confident," Erza insisted, her gaze unwavering.
Makarov sighed, the anger draining away to weary frustration. "Alas! My girl, S-Class requests are not that simple. This particular request has been posted for over two years. In that time, seven or eight powerful Mages have challenged it, and none of them returned."
A collective gasp swept through the Guild. Mages capable of even considering S-Class jobs were titans. Seven or eight of them, vanished?
The mission was a graveyard.
But Erza's serious expression didn't waver. "Every mission has danger, Master. Only by constantly challenging our limits can we break through them. I still want to try!"
Makarov threw his hands up in defeat, his eyes scanning the room, landing on the one person who seemed to be glued to the second-floor request board. That kid.
A mischievous, desperate idea sparked in the old man's eyes.
"Alright! I agree."
"Really?!" Erza's surprise was immediate, a rare crack in her stoic armor.
"However! I have one condition!" Makarov wagged a finger. "You cannot go on this job alone. It's too dangerous. I will assign a partner. Only then will I feel at ease."
He didn't hesitate. He pointed a trembling finger straight at the newcomer.
"Qi Yan! You go with Erza!"
Qi Yan, who'd been idly reading a mission brief, froze. He pointed to himself. "Me?!"
"Eh——?!"
The entire guild erupted. The newcomer who'd completed one S-Class job was immediately being thrown into a second, even more terrifying one? It was utterly insane!
"That's right, kid. You've been eyeing those S-Class missions, haven't you? I'm giving you a chance. Go with Erza to tackle this. Are you doing it or not?"
Suddenly, a hidden prompt only Qi Yan could see flashed in his mind:
DING!Do you accept the S-Class Mission: Sword of Legend?Mission Reward: ONE TEN-PULL GACHA!
A ten-pull! An automatic roll on his unique ability system! That was worth more than all the jewels in Fiore.
"Do it! Do it! Do it!" Qi Yan shouted instantly, rushing over. "Master, I'll do it!"
"Erza, this mission will be completed by you and Qi Yan together," Makarov stated firmly. "If you don't agree, then I cannot allow you to go alone."
He knew Erza was powerful, but she could still fail. Qi Yan, despite his newcomer status, had S-Class experience, and the raw power Elfman described was terrifyingly real. Putting them together was the only way to safeguard his precious children.
"I agree," Erza said without a second thought. She was powerful, not reckless.
She turned to him, her expression shifting instantly to focused professionalism. She offered her hand. "Hello, I'm Erza. Nice to meet you."
Qi Yan quickly shook it, feeling the armored grip—firm, confident, and powerful. "My name is Qi Yan. Nice to meet you."
"I've heard of you," she acknowledged, a tiny competitive spark in her eyes. "Single-handedly defeated the Phantom Bandit Gang and completed an S-Class mission. Very reliable."
"It was just a coincidence."
A ghost of a smile touched her lips. "S-Class missions aren't completed by coincidence. If you have time, we can spar sometime."
Qi Yan swallowed. "Uh... alright!"
Makarov cut in, handing the official form to the newcomer. "Qi Yan, take a look at the mission."
The request form was stark white, marked with a large, ominous red 'S'.
Sword of Legend (S): In a temple deep within the Great Forest west of the Sobeya Kingdom, there is a legendary sword. Pull out the Sword of Legend and return it to the Sobeya Royal Palace.
"The mission itself doesn't sound complicated," Qi Yan mused.
Makarov's tone turned grave. "The simpler the mission description, the more dangerous the hidden truth. Remember, seven or eight powerful Mages have already fallen here."
The old master leaned in, his voice dropping to a low growl that demanded attention.
"I don't know much about the sword, but I know the location. Its official name is the Western Great Forest, but it has another, far more terrifying name: The Demon Beast Great Forest!"