In the Kingdom of Fiore, in the town of Magnolia.
The once-bustling streets erupted into chaos as townsfolk scattered in all directions, fleeing in panic.
Amid the medieval-style buildings, a ten-meter-tall rock golem strode forward. Each heavy step sent tremors through the ground.
The golem's design was unexpectedly refined. Two massive stone swords were embedded into its shoulders, and its sharp, focused gaze gave it the air of a fearless, disciplined soldier.
A biting wind swept through the street. A red-and-black windbreaker fluttered violently in the gusts.
Standing atop the golem's shoulder was a slightly slender man, hands tucked casually into his pockets. His expression was calm as he gazed toward the far end of the street.
There, faintly visible through the haze, was the familiar outline of a guild hall.
"Where did this lunatic come from?" an adventurer shouted in outrage. "How dare he march through the main street like this and disrupt traffic?!"
A magic circle flared to life beneath the man's feet as he stepped forward, blocking the rock golem's path.
He was a mage.
"Hey, hey, don't do this, kid, come back!" a middle-aged man rushed over in a panic, trying to drag the mage away. "That golem is just passing through. Move to the side and nothing will happen!"
As a lifelong resident of Magnolia, he clearly knew more than most about that rock giant.
"Retreat? Are you kidding me?!" the mage scoffed. "I'm the strongest wizard of the Black Azure Foot Guild!"
With a smug grin, he rolled up his sleeve and proudly displayed the guild emblem tattooed on his arm.
At the mention of the guild's name, the middle-aged man froze in surprise. After a moment of searching his memory and finding nothing, his expression turned apologetic.
"I've never heard of that guild."
"…Damn it!"
The self-proclaimed "strongest" mage instantly fell apart.
Cursing under his breath, he angrily activated his magic circle, desperate to prove his overwhelming power.
"If you're going to use magic, don't say I didn't warn you!" someone shouted as the rock golem drew closer. "The man standing on its shoulder is Fairy Tail's S-Class mage, Ches Lin Edogawa!"
The warning was enough.
The speaker turned and bolted without hesitation.
Forget Black Azure Foot or whatever else, I'm out of here!
Fairy Tail?
S-Class?
Ches Lin Edogawa?!
Each name struck the would-be hero like a hammer, echoing relentlessly in his mind.
In less than a second, his once fierce, defiant eyes became harmless, wide, and glassy, brighter than those of an innocent college student.
Boom!
The man had dreamed of defeating the golem and earning the admiration of the entire town, but that fantasy was crushed instantly.
The rock golem kicked him away with a single step. He spun two and a half times in midair before plunging headfirst into a nearby trash bin.
As if nothing had happened, the rock golem continued straight down the street and finally stopped in front of a modest three-story building that looked more like a tavern than anything grand.
A flag depicting dancing fairies fluttered proudly in the wind.
The sign above the entrance read:
Fairy Tail.
Fairy Tail, the most famous mage guild in all of Fiore.
"Dismiss."
High above, Ches snapped his fingers. A card with a black vortex pattern on its back appeared between them. Brilliant light erupted beneath the golem's feet as red-and-black radiance intertwined, forming a slowly rotating, dazzling magic circle.
The massive rock golem shattered into countless points of light, dissolving into the magic circle. Ches lost his footing and drifted lightly down to the ground, smoothly putting away his deck. A single card remained between his fingers.
The Mutou Yugi, Pharaoh Deck.
This was his magic, or more precisely, the cheat he had brought with him when he crossed into the world of Fairy Tail.
By channeling magic power into the cards, he could summon monsters from the deck to fight, much like Celestial Spirit Magic.
"More than a year already," Ches murmured, listening to the noisy voices spilling out from the half-open guild doors. "That feeling of coming home after finishing a long job… it never gets old."
He raised his hand, bent two fingers, and made a very polite knocking gesture.
And then
With a deafening crash, the fragile wooden doors exploded inward, smoke billowing everywhere.
Normal people knocked when they got home. But this was Fairy Tail. Who followed normal procedures here?
"Enemy attack?!"
"Haha, someone actually came here looking for trouble!"
"Don't fight me for it, let me turn the intruder into paste!"
"Move aside, Elfman! This is my moment to shine!"
The sudden disturbance instantly ignited the fighting spirit of the guild's mages. The noise died down as they cracked their knuckles and stared toward the entrance.
If this were any ordinary guild, they might have formed up cautiously.
But Fairy Tail?
They were already arguing over who got to fight before they even saw the intruder's face.
That was their style, loud and fearless.
"Oh? You're going to beat me up, Elfman?" Ches's familiar voice rang out. "Long time no see. You're looking more manly than ever."
The Fairy Tail members froze.
A moment later, the figure emerging from the smoke left them completely stunned.
"Huh?"
"Eh?! Chess!!!"
The moment he recognized Ches, Elfman Strauss, who had been shouting the loudest, instantly deflated. He quietly stepped back, shielding his companions and pretending nothing had happened, then turned toward the bar.
"Mirajane, what were we talking about just now?" he said stiffly. "Right, the clothes from home still haven't arrived, right?"
Mirajane Strauss gently placed her hands on her red dress, tilted her head slightly, and smiled sweetly.
"Yes."
With his sister's perfect cover, Elfman successfully escaped disaster.
Ches slowly withdrew his gaze and glanced at the people standing at the very front.
Jet, Droy, Warren, and two unlucky bystanders all took a synchronized step backward. Only Macao Conbolt reacted half a beat too late, making him painfully conspicuous.
"Y-you bastard! When did you get back?!"
Macao realized he was standing alone. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he cursed the cowards who had retreated without warning.
Damn it. They didn't even give me a signal.
We're Fairy Tail, aren't we?!
Ches's gaze sharpened as he stepped forward, one step at a time, until he stood right in front of Macao.
Cold sweat poured down Macao's forehead.
Why didn't this monster announce he was coming back earlier?
What terrible luck. Please don't punch me in the face…
As a veteran of the guild, Macao knew exactly how terrifying Ches was.
Against Natsu or Gray, he might still have a chance.
But against Ches?
He would be finished.
Just as Macao shut his eyes in despair, Ches's stern expression suddenly collapsed. He raised a finger, pointed straight at Macao's nose, and burst out laughing, so hard that even a snot bubble formed.
"Pwahaha! Isn't this Macao? You still can't even beat a crippled monkey! It's been over a year. How did you get even weaker?"