Several years had passed, and Irene had completely integrated into life at Fairy Tail.
Excluding Weston, the Guild Master whose combat power remained a mystery, she was ostensibly the strongest person in the guild.
The reason for saying "ostensibly" was because, in the shadows, there was also the "Luminance Dragon," Licht.
Over these years, Licht had consistently lived in seclusion in Magnolia. He kept a low profile, almost entirely immersed in the "Magic Mobile Games" developed by Weston. He would only come to the guild to take on missions when he was short on cash to earn some money; one could say he lived a quite transcendental, "lay-flat" lifestyle.
Since every mission Licht accepted was an over-spec S-class request, and he completed each one quickly and perfectly, the members were unsure who among him and Irene was actually stronger.
Regardless, these two had become the undisputed "Twin Pillars" of the guild.
"Guild Master, why are you so nervous?"
"Ha...?? Me... am I nervous???"
"If you're not nervous, why are you sweating so much?"
"It's the heat! There are too many people in the guild, it's a bit stuffy..."
"Do you need me to use magic to make some ice for you?"
As Irene spoke, she raised her right hand.
Magic power surged in her hand, emitting a bone-chilling cold aura that looked quite terrifying.
[DANGER!!!]
Weston felt as if a giant red alert had popped up over his head. He hurriedly declined Irene's "kindness": "Uh... no need, I can just go home and take a bath!"
As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Darwin, who was standing on the table looking extremely pleased with himself, his eyes filled with hidden resentment.
You brat, you've really put your old man in a tight spot!
Irene clearly didn't want to let Weston off that easily. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say more, but fortunately, Mavis hopped out with a smile at that moment. She grabbed Irene's arm and smoothly pressed down that right hand radiating cold air.
"Alright, alright..."
"Don't be angry, Irene!"
"Let the children handle their own affairs..."
"I plan to bake some cakes this afternoon, come and help me!"
Over the years, Irene and Mavis had developed into close confidantes who shared everything.
Everyone in the guild knew that if there was anyone in the world who could talk an angry Irene down, it wasn't Weston or Erza, but Mavis.
With Mavis's sudden hug, the magic power in Irene's hand instantly dissipated. The chilly aura on her body melted away like winter snow meeting a spring breeze, returning to a warm and sunny demeanor.
"Alright!"
"Great, then it's a settled deal!"
Mavis spoke while quietly turning her head to wink at Weston.
Having narrowly escaped a disaster, Weston was so moved he nearly cried.
Waaaah...
Mavis, thank you so much!
Zera took in the interaction between the three and couldn't help but nudge Weston with her elbow, whispering a complaint: "I say, can't you show a little more backbone..."
"What choice do I have?"
"Isn't it all so our son can have an easier time passing the test with his future mother-in-law later on..."
Weston could fully understand Irene's actions.
All these years, she had poured all her heart and soul into Erza.
Now, seeing her daughter about to be led away by some brat from another family, how could she not be anxious?
After the commotion, those who wanted to watch the drama watched, and those who wanted to congratulate did so. Only Precht's mind remained focused on magic.
Thus, after the others ran out of things to say, he finally asked an important question.
"So, what kind of magic did Darwin awaken?"
As soon as this question was thrown out, it immediately pulled the guild members' attention back on track.
"That's right, what magic did Darwin awaken?"
"Is it Super Archive, or Illusion Magic? Or something else?"
Commonly, the magic a child awakens has a certain probability of being inherited from the parents. Although it isn't a hundred percent inheritance, it is a direction one can speculate on.
"I don't know..."
Weston picked his son up from the table: "Darwin, do you feel anything?"
"Feel?" Darwin blinked his clear, large eyes.
"Like... being able to cast Super Archive, or creating illusions or something."
From a young age, Weston and Mavis had frequently performed magic in front of the two children, so Darwin naturally knew what the "Super Archive" and "illusions" his dad mentioned were.
"No!"
Darwin shook his head, then silently felt the magic power within his body again: "But... I do feel like I can do something!"
"Oh? Then try it out quickly!" Weston couldn't help but get excited.
He also really wanted to know what kind of magic his child could awaken.
"Okay! Then I'll try..."
Darwin spoke as he closed his eyes, silently circulating his magic power.
The guild members also gradually stopped their laughing and chatting, quietly watching his movements. They saw the magic power on Darwin's body grow stronger and stronger, and suddenly light flared out until it covered his entire body. Following that, his frame began to grow larger and transform...
Everyone present widened their eyes: "Guild Master, this is... ??"
"It looks like Take Over magic!"
Weston recognized the type of magic at a glance: "I just don't know what he's taking over..."
Soon, the light faded.
Darwin's appearance had undergone a massive change.
The little beanstalk who was originally just over a meter tall had now grown to nearly two meters. His body showed clear signs of bestialization—his head had become a wolf's head, his limbs had turned into wolf claws with crimson eyes and golden pupils, and white-and-gold fur grew over his body, entwined with cyan flame clouds.
"Is this... Tenrou??!"
Mavis recognized the target her son had taken over at a single glance. It was her most familiar "combat partner," the divine beast that guarded Tenrou Island, the Tenrou wolf!
Zera likewise cried out in surprise: "You mean Tenrou? The one you use to fight?"
Mavis nodded seriously: "Exactly! This fur, these eyes, these flame clouds—it's exactly the same. I couldn't be mistaken!"
Hearing this, everyone gasped in unison.
"How is that possible? Tenrou... isn't that a legendary beast? It doesn't even exist in reality!"
"The strange part doesn't end there!"
Precht's eyes sparkled with intensity, excited as if he had encountered some profound magic he had never seen before. "Even if the 'Tenrou' species actually exists in reality, Darwin has only just awakened; he hasn't had any contact with it. How did he take it over? Moreover, it's a Full Body Take Over..."
"That's right! Darwin, how did you take over Tenrou?"
"Uh... well..."
Darwin scratched his head with a claw, and only after a long while did he answer: "Through imagination!"
Imagination?
What a ridiculous and outrageous answer!
Being able to take something over just through imagination without having to make actual contact with the target?
This kind of thing...
Completely shatters the principles of "Take Over Magic," doesn't it!