Bang!
A thunderous crash nearly shook the foundations of the Fairy Tail guild hall, the sound of splintering timber and shattering furniture instantly drowned out by the cheers of the crowd.
It was business as usual.
Natsu, the fire-breathing menace and Gray, the ice-stripping exhibitionist, were at each other's throats again.
Flames roared and ice shards scattered across the room, pushing the guild's daily chaotic uproar to its absolute breaking point.
But just as the brawl threatened to spiral out of control, a booming roar thundered through the hall, carrying enough pressure to paralyze the room instantly.
"All of you, Shut the hell up—! You noisy little brats!"
The guild members snapped their heads toward the bar counter in perfect unison.
Standing there was the short but terrifyingly imposing Guild Master, Makarov Dreyar.
Veins were practically throbbing on his bald forehead, a clear warning sign that his patience had officially evaporated.
Natsu and Gray froze mid-punch, still locked in their ridiculous fighting stances.
Makarov took a long deep breath, forcing himself to calm down before he had an aneurysm.
When he spoke again, his voice had returned to calmness.
"Quiet down before you completely demolish the guild! Look, I've brought a new comrade home."
With the dust settling, the guild's attention shifted to the figure standing quietly behind the Master.
He appeared to be a boy of about fifteen, slightly older than the destructive duo of Natsu and Gray, dressed in simple clothes.
He had messy black hair and dark eyes, but his expression carried a layer of guarded scrutiny and a hidden spark of excitement.
He stood there in silence, a sharp contrast to the fiery atmosphere of the guild.
"Ahem," Makarov cleared his throat, patting the boy's shoulder. "This is Ace. Starting today, he is a new member of Fairy Tail!"
The silence held for exactly one second before the guild exploded into an even louder uproar.
"Whoa, Master, what dusty corner did you pick this kid up from?" Wakaba cackled, lazily blowing a smoke ring into the air.
"Natsu and Gray are already enough of a headache, and now you brought another one? Is our guild turning into a damn daycare?" Macao chimed in from the side.
"Who are you calling kids?!" Natsu and Gray screamed in perfect harmony, the flames of their battle threatening to reignite over the insult.
Ace watched the madness unfold silently.
It was noisy, chaotic, and completely disorganized, yet the room was filled with an indescribable vitality.
The last lingering trace of uncertainty in his heart finally settled.
Fairy Tail.
The home of those passionate bonds that had only existed in the Anime world he came from was now vividly real, breathing and shouting right before his eyes.
He had spent years wandering this world since his arrival.
He had initially landed in a remote mountain village, cut off from information and unable to determine his location.
That was until the day the data finally clicked, and he awakened the unique ability to Summon Digimon.
It was only a few days ago that the wandering Guild Master Makarov had passed through.
The old man had seen through the peculiar magic fluctuations and the dormant potential within him at a glance, deciding right then and there to bring him back to Fairy Tail.
"All of you, shut your traps!" Makarov's roar slammed the hall into silence once more.
He turned to Ace, his expression softening. "Don't mind these idiots. Ace, show everyone your magic, lest they think I dragged back some ordinary civilian."
Ace took a deep breath.
He knew that in this world governed by magic, demonstrating strength was the quickest way to earn respect and integrate.
He took a step forward, his gaze sweeping over his future comrades—Natsu, Gray, and sitting by the bar, a beautiful girl with long white hair and a cold, arrogant demeanor—Mirajane.
At this point in time, she was far from the gentle waitress she would eventually become, her eyes held a sharp scrutinizing look and a competitive spirit that refused to be ignored.
"My name is Ace." His voice rang out clearly. "What I possess might not be conventional Summoning Magic. I call the partners I summon... Digimon."
He raised his hand, focusing his mind.
The modest amount of magic power within him resonated with the contract etched deep in his soul.
A uniquely structured glowing Magic Circle unfolded beneath his feet.
"Answer my call, Gabumon!"
With a brilliant flash of light, a small beastman materialized in the circle, covered in a pelt of fur and wearing a tattered blue scarf.
It looked around warily before spotting Ace and affectionately nuzzling against his leg.
"Ace, who are these humans?" Gabumon asked, immediately dropping into a low, defensive stance.
"Whoa! What is that? A new type of Magical Beast?"
Natsu was the first to rush over as he got zero sense of personal space and he circled Gabumon excitedly while sniffing the air vigorously.
"It smells like a beast! But it doesn't smell like a Monster! Hey, you look pretty strong—let's fight!" As he spoke, he reached out, trying to pat Gabumon's head like a dog.
Gabumon leaped back with surprising agility, baring its teeth.
"You want to fight?!"
"Oh! You've got spirit!"
"Natsu! Do you want to spend the rest of the day kneeling in the corner?!" Makarov's giant fist descended from above, smashing Natsu flat into the floorboards.
At that moment, a female voice cut through the noise.
"A Summoned Beast? It looks… weak."
Ace looked over to see Mirajane with her arms crossed looking unimpressed.
"Master, does our guild really need to rely on this kind of seemingly powerless little animal to keep up appearances?"
Beside her, Erza didn't speak, but she eyed Gabumon with a sharp calculating gaze, as if she were already assessing its combat power.
Gray, who was watching Natsu's miserable state with a speechless expression, had subconsciously stripped off his shirt without noticing and commented.
"Magic that can summon living creatures is rare. But really, what use could a little guy like this be in a real fight?"
Faced with the skepticism of the guild's members, Ace didn't get angry.
He simply stroked Gabumon's head calmly, soothing his partner's indignation at being belittled.
"Gabumon is my family, not a tool. His true power will reveal itself when it's time to protect our friends."
Makarov hopped off the bar, looking thoroughly satisfied with Ace's composed attitude.
"Alright! You've all seen it! Ace is one of us from today on! Anyone with an objection can talk to my fist first! To welcome our new member—"
The Guild Master drew out the words, raising a giant arm into the air.
"Let's have a party—!"
"Yeahhhh—!"
The guild's atmosphere instantly ignited, the previous doubts and provocations drowning in a massive wave of revelry.
Barrels of booze and platters of food were slammed onto the tables, music started blaring, and the entire guild hall transformed into an ocean of joy.
Ace stood there, a little overwhelmed by the sudden burst of enthusiasm.
Gabumon looked up at him, tilting its head as if asking, 'Ace, is this place really okay?'
Natsu had already peeled himself off the floor, slinging a heavy arm around Ace's neck, having completely forgotten the earlier scolding.
"Hey! Ace! Bring this guy on the next mission, and let's see who can take down more monsters!"
Even the haughty Mirajane just snorted softly and turned to join the celebrating crowd, though her eyes would occasionally flick back toward Ace and Gabumon with a hint of lingering curiosity.
Looking at the noisy, destructive, yet incredibly sincere scene around him, Ace's tense nerves finally relaxed.
He looked down at Gabumon, showing his first genuine smile since arriving at the guild.
"Gabu, it looks like… we've found one hell of a place. This is our new home now."
Gabumon didn't fully understand the human social dynamics, but it could feel Ace's happiness radiating through their bond.
It nodded vigorously. "Yeah! Gabu will protect Ace, and I'll protect this place too!"