The heated carriage felt like paradise after the mountain's brutal conditions. Macao was stable but needed immediate medical attention, his breathing shallow and labored. Natsu's flames had kept him alive, but hypothermia and exhaustion had taken their toll.
As we rolled toward Magnolia, the System finally chimed with my mission rewards:
[ Mt. Hakobe Mission Complete! ]
[ Exceptional Performance Bonus Activated ]
[ Rewards: 3 Common Tickets, 2 Rare Tickets, 1 Epic Ticket ]
[ Special Achievement: "Avalanche Tactician" ]
[ Additional Reward: 1 Legendary Ticket ]
My eyes widened at the notification. A Legendary ticket? That was completely unexpected. I glanced around the carriage to make sure no one noticed my shocked expression, but Lucy was focused on Macao while Natsu dozed against the window.
[ System Recommendation: Use Legendary Ticket immediately ]
[ Warning: High-tier rewards may cause noticeable changes ]
[ Suggested Privacy: Required ]
I quietly activated the Plinko system, watching as the brilliant golden ball dropped through the pegs. It seemed to move in slow motion, bouncing between obstacles before finally settling into the center slot.
[ [ 10x Multiplier Achieved! ]
[ Legendary Reward Enhanced! ]
[ Calculating... ]
The System paused for what felt like an eternity, numbers spinning across the interface before the final result appeared:
[ Legendary Skill Acquired: Elemental Resistance - Master Level ]
[ Effect: 90% resistance to all natural elements ]
[ Passive Ability: Always Active ]
[ Note: This skill rivals S-Class defensive capabilities ]
[ System Note: Base Resistance 9% × Plinko Multiplier 10 → 90% Final Value ]
I blinked at the notification, processing the numbers. The base elemental resistance for a Legendary-tier skill was just 9%, but the 10x multiplier I'd hit with the Plinko system had magnified it tenfold. Ninety percent resistance to fire, wind, lightning, water and earth—it was insane. This single skill had just pushed me from barely surviving natural threats to having defensive power comparable to some of Fairy Tail's strongest wizards.
"You okay, Shiro?" Lucy asked softly, noticing my stunned silence. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
I forced a casual smile, my heart still racing from the magnitude of what I'd just gained. "Just tired," I replied, hoping my voice sounded steadier than I felt. "It's been a long day."
As we finally approached Magnolia's gates, I could see the warm glow of Fairy Tail's windows cutting through the evening darkness. The sight filled me with a relief I hadn't expected—we were home. Or at least, I was starting to think of it that way.
Romeo was waiting at the guild entrance, pacing exactly as Natsu had predicted. The moment our carriage pulled up and he saw his father being helped out by Natsu, the boy's composure cracked completely. Tears streamed down his face as he ran to embrace Macao, both of them holding each other like they'd never let go again.
"I'm sorry, Romeo," Macao whispered, his voice hoarse but full of love. "I didn't mean to worry you."
I watched the reunion from a respectful distance, feeling something tight in my chest ease at the sight. This was why we did these missions—not for the money or the glory, but for moments like this. Families reunited. People brought home safely.
Master Makarov appeared in the doorway, taking in the scene with those sharp eyes that seemed to see everything. "Well done," he said simply, but the weight of approval in those two words meant more than any elaborate praise could have.
The guild hall erupted in celebration as word spread of our successful rescue. Cana raised her barrel in a toast, Gray actually kept his clothes on for more than five minutes in honor of the occasion, and even Erza emerged from whatever mission she'd been on to nod approvingly at our return.
But it was Lucy's expression that caught my attention most. She was watching the reunion with tears in her eyes, her hand unconsciously moving to touch her guild mark. For someone who'd grown up feeling disconnected from family, seeing Romeo and Macao together must have reinforced what she'd found here—a place where people looked out for each other, where no one was left behind.
"Not bad for your first mission," Mirajane said with her characteristic warm smile as she approached with medical supplies for Macao. "Most new members don't come back from Mt. Hakobe with quite so many stories to tell."
I couldn't help but laugh at that understatement. "We aim to exceed expectations," I replied, earning a giggle from Lucy and a snort from Natsu, who was finally starting to look less green now that he was off the moving carriage.
The celebration continued long into the evening, but eventually my exhaustion began to catch up with me. My newly acquired Elemental Resistance was amazing, but it didn't do anything for basic physical fatigue. My body was reminding me that I'd just survived a blizzard, an avalanche, and a cave-in all in one day.
"I think I'm going to call it a night," I announced, stretching and suppressing a yawn. "Today's been... intense."
Lucy nodded sympathetically. "I know what you mean. I feel like I could sleep for a week."
"Aw, come on!" Natsu protested, still energized despite everything we'd been through. "The party's just getting started! Gray was about to challenge me to a drinking contest!"
"Which you'd lose spectacularly," Gray called out from across the hall, raising his mug. "Fire-breath can't handle real alcohol!"
"What did you say, ice princess?"
I chuckled and shook my head. "Save some energy for tomorrow's fights, Natsu. I'm beat." I waved to the guild in general. "Goodnight, everyone. Thanks for welcoming us home."
A chorus of goodnights followed me as I headed toward the stairs leading to the guild dormitories. Most members lived in their own places, but new recruits like me were offered basic rooms until we could afford something better. It wasn't much—just a small bed, a desk, and a window—but after sleeping rough before joining Fairy Tail, it felt like luxury.
The real reason I was heading to bed early, though, had nothing to do with exhaustion. Those tickets from the mountain mission were burning a hole in my consciousness, and I needed privacy to see what other rewards I could unlock. Six tickets total, including some rare ones—it was like Christmas morning.
Once I was safely behind my closed door, I activated the System interface with barely contained excitement.
[ Tickets Available: 3 Common, 2 Rare, 1 Epic ]
[ Plinko Machine Ready ]
[ Recommend order: Common first for basic improvements ]
I sat on the edge of my narrow bed, the sounds of celebration still drifting up from below. The System's blue glow bathed my small room in ethereal light as I studied the Plinko board with its familiar layout of pegs and multiplier slots.
"Before I start," I said quietly to the interface, "I need to understand something. What exactly does each rarity tier contain? And is there any way to combine lower-tier tickets into higher ones?"
The System responded immediately:
[ Rarity Information Requested ]
[ Displaying Tier Breakdown... ]
[ COMMON TICKETS ]
- Basic combat skills
- Minor stat boosts (+1-3 points)
- Simple utility abilities
- Basic resistance skills (5-15%)
[ RARE TICKETS ]
- Intermediate combat techniques
- Moderate stat boosts (+3-7 points)
- Enhanced magical compatibility
- Intermediate resistances (15-35%)
[ EPIC TICKETS ]
- Advanced combat abilities
- Major stat boosts (+7-15 points)
- Unique skill combinations
- Advanced resistances (35-65%)
[ LEGENDARY TICKETS ]
- Master-tier abilities
- Massive stat boosts (+15-30 points)
- Rare magical affinities
- Master resistances (65-95%)
[ EXOTIC TICKETS ]
- World-breaking abilities
- Extreme stat growth (+30-50 points)
- Unique evolutionary paths
- Perfect resistances (95-99%)
[ Fusion System Available ]
[ Rule: 3 tickets of same rarity = 1 ticket of next tier ]
[ Example: 3 Common → 1 Rare ]
[ Warning: Fusion is irreversible ]
My eyes widened at the information. A fusion system? That changed everything. I quickly did the math—I had 3 Common tickets, which could become 1 Rare. Combined with my existing 2 Rare tickets, that would give me 3 Rare total, which could fuse into 1 Epic. Adding that to my current Epic ticket would mean 2 Epic tickets total.
"System, if I fuse my 3 Common tickets into 1 Rare, then fuse 3 Rare tickets into 1 Epic, I'd have 2 Epic tickets. Can I get better results using them separately, or should I consider fusing them too?"
[ Analysis Complete ]
[ Current Path A: Use tickets individually ]
[ Expected Value: Moderate mixed results ]
[ Current Path B: Fuse to 2 Epic tickets ]
[ Expected Value: Two high-tier rewards ]
[ Note: Epic tier provides significant power jumps ]
[ Recommendation: Fusion strategy optimal for growth ]
I leaned back, considering my options. The safe play would be to use everything individually and guarantee multiple smaller upgrades. But the fusion system offered a chance at truly powerful abilities that could make a real difference in upcoming challenges.
"Alright," I decided. "Let's do this strategically. Fuse the Common tickets first."
[ Fusion Initiated ]
[ 3 Common Tickets → 1 Rare Ticket ]
[ New Total: 3 Rare Tickets, 1 Epic Ticket ]
The familiar Plinko interface shifted as three gray tickets dissolved into light, reforming as a single blue ticket that pulsed with more intense energy.
"Now fuse the three Rare tickets."
[ Fusion Initiated ]
[ 3 Rare Tickets → 1 Epic Ticket ]
[ New Total: 2 Epic Tickets ]
Two purple tickets now floated before me, their energy making the air itself seem to shimmer. Epic-tier rewards—this was the level where things got really interesting.
"Let's see what we can get," I murmured, selecting the first Epic ticket for the Plinko drop.
The purple ball descended through the pegs with an almost hypnotic rhythm, bouncing left and right before finally settling into a slot.
[ 4x Multiplier! ]
[ Epic Reward Enhanced! ]
[ Calculating... ]
[ Skills Acquired! ]
[ Tactical Combat Analysis - Level 2 (Active) ]
[ Enhanced Physical Conditioning (Passive) ]
[ Magic Resistance - Intermediate (Passive) ]
[ Strategic Planning - Level 1 (Passive) ]
I felt the changes immediately—my mind felt sharper, more focused, and I could sense new strength flowing through my muscles. The Magic Resistance would complement my Elemental Resistance perfectly, and the Tactical Combat Analysis would be invaluable in future fights.
"One more," I whispered, dropping the second Epic ticket into the Plinko machine.
This ball seemed to move even more deliberately, as if the System itself was holding its breath. It bounced through the lower sections before coming to rest in the far right slot.
[ 7x Multiplier! ]
[ Maximum Epic Enhancement! ]
[ Rare Fusion Detected! ]
[ Unique Skill Created! ]
[ Battle Instinct - Master Level (Passive/Active) ]
[ Effect: Unconscious threat detection and optimal response calculation ]
[ Sub-abilities unlocked: ]
- [ Danger Sense (Always Active) ]
- [ Combat Flow State (Activatable) ]
- [ Tactical Prediction (Enhanced) ]
[ Additional Rewards: ]
[ Physical Stats +21 points (distributed optimally) ]
[ Magical Capacity +15 points ]
[ Mental Processing Speed +10 points ]
The rush of power was overwhelming. My body felt stronger, faster, more coordinated. But it was the mental changes that were most dramatic—I could suddenly perceive threats and opportunities in ways I'd never imagined. It was like someone had upgraded my entire operating system.
[ System Alert ]
[ Power Level Assessment: Significant Increase ]
[ Current Ranking: Mid-Tier Guild Member ]
[ Note: These abilities will require practice to master ]
[ Caution: Avoid displaying full capabilities immediately ]
I stood up and moved to the small mirror in my room, studying my reflection. I looked the same, but I could feel the difference in every fiber of my being. The mountain mission had been a struggle just hours ago, but now... now I felt like I could handle much greater challenges.